Brussels, 03/02/2006 (Agence Europe) - Fisheries Council experts met on 2 February to look at implementation of the EU-Morocco fisheries agreement, postponed until 1 May 2006 (see EUROPE 9120). They expressed reservations about the new demands by Morocco, submitted in Rabat on 27 January, for private operators to be granted authorisation to fish pelagic fish in addition to the fishing quotas set out in the agreement with the EU. The fishing permits would be granted by the Moroccan government following a call for tender. Several EU Member States experts pointed out that there is no legal basis for such private permits to be granted by Morocco. One delegation even pointed out the danger of artificial competition (to the benefit of Morocco) between EU ships and Russian ships (which already have fishing permits). This delegation argued that such competition would enable Morocco to sell licences to the highest bidder. The Commission explained that it could agree to Morocco's request as long as it was foreseen under the bilateral agreement. The Commission says that Morocco wants European ships to be able to bid for the private licenses so it does not only depend on Russian fishermen. Morocco's offer would also allow EU fishermen to increase their fishing quotas, explained the Commission.
France wants a review of the minimum mesh size for pelagic and semi-pelagic trawling in the EU-Morocco agreement (40 millimetres), on the grounds that EU ships use 16 mm mesh for industrial pelagic trawling. The agreement foresees an annual quota of 60,000 tonnes for industrial pelagic fishing, over and above the other fishing options, namely 20 senners for Northern pelagic fishing, 20 ships for traditional Southern fishing, 30 deep-sea long-liners for Northern traditional fishing, and 27 canners and 22 deep-sea-long-liners and trawlers for demersal fishing (see EUROPE 9099). The Commission replied that it shared French concerns and would be raising the question of minimum mesh size at the upcoming technical meetings. The Commission aimed to reassure that the EU would not negotiate an agreement including fishing options that the EU fleet could not take up for technical reasons.