Morocco eyes new fisheries strategy

Moroccan prime minister, Driss Jettou, announced Thursday that the maritime fisheries ministry commissions in charge of general and economic affairs and economy upgrading and the fisheries Association will meet next Monday to "ponder a new strategy" for the fisheries sector.

Jettou told MAP, at the end of a meeting with fisheries professionals, that the decision comes following the recommendation of Fishery Research National Institute (INRH) to extend cephalopods fisheries biological rest until the end of April 2004.

The prime minister said that this decision "which greatly affects the fisheries sector prompts us to ponder a new strategy to assist the sector to overcome the crisis."

"starting from Monday, the commissions set will meet in order to define the emergency assistance measures to undertake and help fisheries enterprises to eye resuming their activities and adopt the necessary measures concerning traditional and coast fishery activities and the preservation of fisheries resources."