Morocco-EU fisheries accord will not be renewed, minister

The Morocco-European Union fisheries accord will not be renewed when it expires next november 30 and Spanish fishing boats will no longer have the possibility to operate directly in Moroccan grounds after this date, said spokesman of the Moroccan government, Khalid Alioua.

"There will be no renewal of the fisheries accord between Morocco and the European Union and Spanish fishing boats will no longer have the possibility to operate directly in Moroccan territorial waters beyond November 30," the spokesman said in Rabat Thursday at a press briefing after the Cabinet's weekly meeting, held under the chairmanship of Premier Abderrahmane Youssoufi.

Alioua made the statement in response to Spanish Foreign Minister Abel Matutes, who had said that Morocco and Spain might agree on a "new provisional formula" enabling Spanish trawlers to operate in Moroccan territorial waters.

The spokesman added that Morocco and Spain might promote their cooperation in the sectors of fish processing, sea products marketing and ships building.

Morocco 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 decision was prompted by the kingdom's concern to protect its waning sea resources.

Matutes had told reporters in Madrid on Thursday that no negotiations on a new fisheries accord with Morocco were under way. "There is for the time being no perspective for a fisheries accord with Morocco," matutes said but he did not discard the possibility to reach "a certain provisional formula" that might enable spanish trawlers to fish in Moroccan grounds.

Spanish minister of agriculture and fisheries, Jesus Posada, said last Tuesday that negotiations between Morocco and the European Union on fisheries would start during the second half of September. He said his department is committed to seeking "new, different formulas" for the Morocco-EU fisheries accord.