Morocco Russia, extend Maritime Cooperation
Morocco and Russia sign a new maritime fisheries cooperation
The Kingdom of Morocco and the Russian Federation have signed a new maritime fisheries cooperation agreement, which replaces the 2016 agreement that expired in March 2020.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries released a statement on Friday that due to Covid-19 pandemic constraints, the two parties had held several rounds of online discussions before agreeing on a common vision that led to the signing of the deal.
The new agreement, which will last for four years, is the eighth of its kind since 1992. It establishes the legal framework allowing a fleet of 10 Russian vessels to fish for small pelagic species in Moroccan waters beyond 15 miles nautical.
The two ministers responsible for fisheries had expressed their desire to renew fisheries cooperation between the two countries, taking into account the state of fisheries resources and their attachment to the preservation of this resource, underlines the same source.
It also provides a scientific and technical cooperation between the National Fisheries Research Institute and its Russian counterpart for the monitoring of the pelagic ecosystem in Moroccan waters. Likewise, it allows Moroccan students to benefit from training grants in Russian establishments specializing in sea fishing.
According to the statement, the activity of Russian vessels in Moroccan waters offers work opportunities for Moroccan fishermen at the rate of 16 sailors per vessel at all times, noting that these vessels are subject to a control and monitoring system which includes in addition to the technical visit to Moroccan ports, the continuous track of each vessel by satellite, as well as the permanent embarkation of a Moroccan scientific observer.
The ministry also informs that the joint commission, which will meet before the start of fishing activities, will fix the quota to be granted to Russian vessels under the first year of the agreement, in accordance with the provisions of the management plan of the “C stock small pelagic fishery”. It will also cover all the technical provisions and financial arrangements for the implementation of the agreement.
The Moroccan Ministry recalled that the deal offers a financial contribution made up of an annual financial compensation, representing the right of access to the resource, the annual fee, and the regulatory fees for fishing license.