Morocco extends exceptional fishing license for Spanish fishermen

Morocco's King Mohammed VI has decided to extend, starting April 17, the exceptional license to the oil slick-affected fishermen of Galicia (northwestern Spain) to operate in Morocco's exclusion zone, it was officially announced this Wednesday.

The announcement was made by sea fisheries minister, Tayeb Rhafes, at a meeting with Spanish ambassador to Morocco, Fernando Arias Salgado.

The authorization will be renewed according to the same practical modes and technical conditions outlined in the Moroccan-Spanish agreement signed last December 23, said the minister.

After the Galicia region was affected by an oil spill resulting from the sunken tanker "Prestige," Morocco had allowed last December 64 fishing trawlers from the Spanish region of Galicia to operate in Morocco's territorial waters for free for a renewable period of three months.

The Spanish diplomat commended the decision stressing "we are grateful for this lofty gesture and for the sovereign's wise decision" and expressing the Spanish government and Galician population gratefulness for "the exceptional token of solidarity."

"With the decision that comes at a period of distress, I hope that the situation of Galician fishermen will improve, noting that the two neighbor countries are on the path of developing relations in several fields," he added.