Brussels, 23/01/2014 (Agence Europe) - At the start of the week, the Moroccan government approved a fisheries agreement with the EU and sent it for ratification to the parliament, Moroccan sources state. The agreement has already been approved by the European Parliament. “Just the stage at the Moroccan Parliament remains for it to enter into force. While awaiting this last phase, Spanish shipowners are looking forward to returning to Moroccan waters”, states Moroccan press.
Those benefitting from the agreement - Spanish shipowners - are eager to resume their activity after more than a year's interruption. Moroccan media quote Pedro Maza, the head of the Andalusian Federation of Fisheries Associations (FAAPE), who states that implementation of the agreement “is taking longer than we had imagined”. He nevertheless believes that the process under way “reassures us” but he says that he does not know the date when the Spanish shipowners will be able to return to Moroccan waters. Maza states that there are still many steps to be taken, including “the creation of a joint committee, the request for and granting of licences, and technical visits”. In Maza's view, the whole process could take at least a month.
At the start of the month, the Moroccan Parliament's committees debated another agreement - this time with Russia. Ten Russian ships will be admitted to Moroccan fishing zones with a financial counterpart and conditions - especially that of having Moroccan sailors and scientific observers permanently aboard so as to monitor and control the Russians' activity at sea (particularly the respect of quotas), the media reports. (FB/transl.fl)