Casablanca hosts international sea fair; deep reforms in fisheries sectors

As Morocco is braced for deep reforms of its sea fisheries sectors, the economic capital city of Casablanca is hosting next April 10-13 the 6th international sea fair.

Moroccan minister of sea fisheries, Tayeb Rhafes, explained at a press conference that this major annual event is held as Morocco has devised a program-contract that seeks to make of the sector an engine of social-economic development. The fair will, therefore, showcase for Moroccan and foreign professionals new sea products and partnership prospects.

The sector employs over 400,000 persons and generates a turnover of 16 billion DH (US$ 1.6 billion). A fleet of 350 freezer-vessels, 1,800 coastal fishing ships and 17,000 conventional fishing units operate along Morocco's 3,500 km of Mediterranean and Atlantic shores.

The program-contract lays a special emphasis on safeguarding sea riches by clearly defining private and public operators' duties, diversifying activities, through the development of aquaculture, while seeing that Moroccans are the first beneficiaries of the sectors in terms of job and wealth creation.

Other actions include a ship-building unit to industrialize at a competitive price fishing units. Investment in the project is estimated at 7 billion DH (US$ 700 million).