European Union starts informal contacts with Morocco on new fisheries accord, Bonino

The European Commission has started informal contacts with Moroccan authorities in the perspective of negotiations on a new fisheries accord, acting European commissioner Emma Bonino was quoted by Spanish news agency "EFE" as saying.

The fisheries ministers of the European Union member countries had asked early last June the European commission to start negotiations with Morocco the soonest possible "to prospect new cooperation mechanisms satisfying both sides," Ms Bonino said.

Negotiations will be conducted by the new European commissioners group that will take office probably next September, EFE said recalling that Morocco is opposed to the renewal of the fisheries accord with the European Union, after it expires next november 30 while Spain said it was ready to negotiate a different accord based on the creation of joint ventures.

Moroccan fisheries professionals have however rejected the proposal to set up joint ventures with the European Union, saying that this is a mere attempt to carry on and disguise the looting of Morocco's sea resources and that the Europeans would be the only beneficiary of this new formula.

Morocco has officially announced that it will not renew the Morocco-European Union four-year fisheries accord. Nearly 600 European trawlers, mainly Spanish and Portuguese, operate in Moroccan waters under this accord.

The non-renewal of the accord with the European Union would undoubtedly have a positive incidence on the fisheries sector, as the Moroccan fleet catches would jump to 1.5 million tons in 2003, while these catches do not exceed 700,000 tons at present, Moroccan fisheries professional argue.

With national territorial waters extending over 1.2 million square Km and with a 3,500 km long sea coast, Morocco has huge sea resources and harbors over 840 fish species. In 1998, sea products exports have earned Morocco $ 740 Million (7.4 billion Dirhams), recording an increase of 10 % compared to the previous year. The sector provides nearly 400,000 jobs.