Fisheries professionals in northern region back decision not to renew fisheries accord with EU

The fisheries professionals operating in the northern cities of Tangier, Tetuan, and Larache have voiced backing to Morocco's decision not to renew the fisheries accord with the European Union.

The professionals, who were attending a study day on maritime fisheries in the northern region, underlined in a final statement the accord's harmful effects on the country's sea resources and said this accord does not serve the interests of seamen nor the country's economy.

They stressed in this regard the need for Morocco to seek new outlets for its fish exports and to prospect new partnership opportunities.

They called for extending and rehabilitating the fishing ports existing in the region, promoting scientific research on the size of existing fish stocks, and rationalizing sea resources exploiting.

They likewise appealed for the setting up of units to monitor the quality of sea waters and for modernizing the fishing fleet as well as all the facilities used to stock or market fish, in addition to amending the laws regulating maritime fisheries and especially the provisions concerning seamen (social and medical coverage, allowances and others).

Out of concern to protect its depleting sea resources, Morocco has officially announced that it will not renew the four-year fisheries accord binding it to the european Union and under which nearly 600 European trawlers, mainly Spanish and Portuguese, operate in Moroccan waters. The accord expires on November 30, 1999.