Morocco decries alarming state of fisheries resources in Mediterranean Sea

Morocco's Fisheries minister, Tayeb Rhafes decried on Thursday the alarming state of fisheries resources in the Mediterranean sea, stressing that the area's ecosystem has grown even more fragile.

In a speech to the committee chairing the project on the promotion of scientific cooperation in the western Mediterranean area "COPEMED," currently convening its 11th encounter in Casablanca, the Moroccan official noted that the situation in the countries of the Southern and Northern banks of the Mediterranean sea has reached a point where some decisive decisions must be taken to rehabilitate the area's fisheries resources.

He praised in this respect the compulsory terms of the decision adopted by the Mediterranean Fisheries General Council, during its last meeting held in Rome, in terms of managing fisheries riches.

This decision, he further noted, is a call for order based on scientific data thanks to the contribution of COPEMED project.

The Moroccan official invited both banks of the Mediterranean sea to engage in a more active cooperation to uphold the productivity and stability of the region's sea resources.

This cooperation, according to him, should zero in on the consolidation of the Southern bank's scientific structures according to a comprehensive vision on the management of fisheries resources.