Fisheries: Spain seeks, beyond catches, sustainable cooperation with Morocco
Spain's minister of agriculture, fisheries and food, Elena Espinosa, said, in Madrid Wednesday, her country plans to devise with Morocco a "lasting vision" of bilateral cooperation in fisheries, beyond fish catches in Moroccan seas.
The Spanish official, who insisted that her country respects the European Commission's prerogatives regarding the negotiation of a fisheries agreement, stressed that this type of cooperation needs "an atmosphere of stability and trust" that will help overcome "fears of the past."
Addressing the parliament, Espinosa reiterated Spain's will to resume dialogue and cooperation with Morocco in fisheries, adding that the visit (last May) to Morocco of Spanish premier, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, has helped shore up Morocco-Spain ties which "had deteriorated."
Morocco has refused to renew a fisheries agreement with the European Union after its expiration in November 1999, citing concerns over its depleting resources. The agreement gave about 400 mainly Spanish and Portuguese boats the right to fish in Moroccan waters.
She also revealed that the two countries have a busy agenda of meetings and debates on cooperation in fisheries, citing a meeting held on June 4 in Madrid to discuss development of bilateral and multilateral cooperation in various branches of fisheries.
The two countries, she went on, have agreed to improve the respect and observance of fisheries-related directives issued by regional organizations and to consolidate their cooperation in the fight against illegal fishing activities.
During their meeting in June, Moroccan and Spanish top officials agreed to cooperate in sea fisheries research and training and collaborate in the development of various fishing sectors, in quality control, fishing technologies, quest of new markets, development of aquaculture and analyzing obstacles to the flourishing of ship construction in Morocco.
Morocco had also asked for Spain's assistance for a better knowledge of deep sea resources and Spain's oceanographic ship "Vizconde de Eza" is scheduled to conduct starting on November 14 a month-long prospecting mission in Morocco's deep sea.
