Morocco, Guinea sign implementation protocol of fisheries accord

Morocco and Guinea signed in Rabat on Saturday an implementation protocol of the fisheries accord binding the two countries since April 1997.

Under the protocol initialed by visiting Guinean Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture Mansa Moussa Sidibe and the Moroccan minister in charge of maritime fisheries, Thami Khyari, the two sides will cooperate in matters of research to assess sea resources, mainly cephalopod and shrimp stocks.

The protocol also provides for the exploitation and promotion of sea resources, mainly through granting licenses to Moroccan trawlers fishing bottom-dwelling fish, cephalopods and shrimp, the setting up of joint ventures, and the promotion of infrastructures for the processing and marketing of sea products.

The two sides pledged to trade experience in matters of fishing monitoring and vocational training.

The Guinean minister of fisheries and agriculture who started his visit to Morocco last Monday made a trip to the southern city of Laayoune, where he visited several industrial units operating in fisheries and related industries.

Moroccan-Guinean cooperation is ruled by several accords, including a covenant signed in 1997 on trade and tariffs.

Trade exchange, which is steadily progressing, stood at $22.36 million in 1997. Morocco's exports to Guinea are made up of canned fish and ready made garments while imports consist mainly of coffee and cotton.