Morocco bans ocean fishing

Pelagic fishing will be banned in Moroccan southern coasts starting this December 11, Moroccan fisheries department said.

The move aims to protect Morocco's halieutic resources and concerns namely the fishing of sardines, anchovy, mackerel, swordfish and other juvenile sea species, Moroccan fisheries authorities said.

Morocco decided last year to ban sardines fishing in its southern shores between Dakhla and Boujdour, for a renewable 1-year period, to protect the endangered sardines stocks.

Morocco announced it will not renew the fisheries accord with the European Union when it expires in 1999 in a bid to protect its halieutic resources.

Morocco proposed to its EU partners (namely Spain and Portugal) a new form of cooperation and partnership that will cover sea-food processing, fish-farming, ship maintenance, scientific research, vocational training and ports modernization.