Morocco repeats its opposition to renewing fishery agreement with Europe

Morocco renewed its opposition to renewing its marine fishery agreement with the European Union, while Spain demanded the renegotiation on this issue on December 4, 1997.

Morocco's minister of marine fishery, El-Tohami El-Khiari, said today that Morocco intends to intensify its control over the ships that fish in its waters. El-Khiari confirmed that the Moroccan attitude was officially relayed to the European Union.

The European Union is paying financial compensation to Morocco in return for the right to fish Moroccan waters, yet Rabat believes this agreement presents major problems, as Morocco cannot implement comprehensive control over the quantities of fish caught in its waters.