The Mediterranean Chamber of Maritime Fisheries (CPMM) stressed that the General Court of the European Union (EU) ruling on the agricultural and fisheries agreements with Morocco is “political in nature.”

“The impact from this decision, because it appears political in character in its content, and corresponds with the initiatives taken by Morocco at the regional and international levels to develop its strategic partnerships,” the Chamber said in a news release.

It expressed its delight at the European Court of Justice’s judgment on the agricultural and fishing agreements with Morocco, emphasizing that the EU is the first to benefit from fishing in Moroccan seas, due to a fleet of ships.

Such decisions cannot disrupt the ties that unite maritime fishing professionals on both sides, especially when it is a first-time decision and the file has already been exposed to the same scenario. According to the same source, the decision was made in 2015 before being overturned by the Court of Appeal.

In this context, the Chamber stated that “the European Court’s ruling remains an improper involvement in foreign policy between sovereign States, especially because it ignores the tremendous development enjoyed by the southern provinces.” At a time when international diplomatic missions are progressively establishing themselves at the level of these provinces, the Kingdom, as well as the field considerations of the ocean fishing sector in the Moroccan Sahara.

In addition, the Mediterranean Chamber of Maritime Fisheries expressed its “confidence in the EU-Morocco relations and cooperation, contrary to the wishes of the enemies of territorial integrity,” noting that “the development of partnerships and the stability of commercial relations between the two parties must take place within a clear legal framework, far from political espionage,” and that “the development of partnerships and the stability of commercial relations between the two parties must take place within a clear legal framework, far from political espionage.”

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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.

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