Moroccan fisheries development scheme to be announced

The pullout of the European fleet in November and the Russian fleet in December from Moroccan waters is the first stage of a global scheme for the development of the fishing sector, said Fishery Minister Thami Khyari.

Khyari said in a question-time Wednesday at the house of representatives that the kingdom and the European Union were working out a new approach not to fishing but to bilateral cooperation on the whole. He announced for the few coming weeks details of the government development program for the sector which also caters for traditional fishing activity.

The department is busy working with the interior ministry to better regulate night activity of fishing trawlers in northern areas in a bid to stop illegal immigration, he said. Meantime, Interior Minister Ahmed Midaoui said Wednesday repressive measures were not enough to stop illegal immigration and stressed the need for development projects and economic growth.