Morocco will not renew fishing accord with EU

Morocco will not renew the fishing accord concluded in 1996 with the European Union, the Moroccan fisheries minister told Tuesday here the Chamber of Advisors (upper house of the Parliament).

The minister said the accord, to expire in 1999,

will be the last of its kind and affirmed that the Moroccan government will seek a new form of cooperation with the EU in the fishing sector, which employs 400,000 persons.

He added that Morocco will continue to respect the fishing accord, despite its negative impact on the country's sea resources.

Last may, Morocco decided to ban sardines fishing in its southern shores stretching from Dakhla down to Boujdour, for a renewable 1-year period, to protect the endangered sardines stocks.

The decision was unanimously backed by fisheries professionals as the Moroccan sardine stocks plummeted to alarming levels.

About 750 European trawlers (mostly from spain) operate in Moroccan waters besides the nearly 440 Moroccan fleet.