EU Fishermen Back in Moroccan Waters

EU Fishermen back in Moroccan Waters

 Morocco’s has ratified a Fisheries Protocol which is set to open the door for European vessels to go back fishing in Moroccan waters after a pause of more than two years.

 

The European Union and Morocco had concluded the 4-year fisheries deal in December 2013, however its entry into force was pending ratification by Morocco.

Now that both sides have concluded their ratification procedure, EU vessels will receive certain fishing rights in Moroccan waters in return for financial assistance by the EU to develop the Moroccan fishery sector.

The protocol is the second most important of its kind and belongs to a new generation of fisheries agreements after the reform of the EU Common Fisheries Policy, placing a strong emphasis on environmental sustainability, economic profitability and international legality.

The EU Commissioner Maria Damanaki said: ” This new protocol is an example for responsible international fisheries governance: we made sure that the EU’s fishing rights do not exceed the scientifically sound limit that ensures sustainable fisheries, and that European vessels do not compete with local fishermen.

I am confident that the EU’s financial support will help build a sustainable future for Moroccan fisheries through the targeted sectoral support.”

Up to 120 vessels from 11 EU countries (Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, Netherlands, Ireland, Poland and United Kingdom) are concerned by the new protocol.

The fishing possibilities have been increased by a third compared to the previous protocol and will now total 80,000 tonnes for small pelagic species with further fishing opportunities available for demersal, tuna and artisanal fisheries.

In total, 6 fishing categories exploited by both industrial and small-scale fleet segments are covered by the protocol.

The total cost to the EU will be €30m a year (USD 40.7m), of which €16m (USD 21.7m) compensates Morocco for access to the resource and €14m (USD 19m) is directed towards supporting the fisheries sector in the country.

In addition, the ship owners’ contribution is estimated at €10 million, giving a total financial envelope for Morocco of an estimated €40 million, whilst the new Protocol also provides for increased job opportunities for Moroccan fishermen.

A human rights clause is included in the Protocol and, as with all of the EU’s agreements, an in-built suspension mechanism ensures that the EU can unilaterally suspend the protocol in case of human rights violations.

Detailed and regular reporting obligations for Morocco will help to demonstrate the economic and social impact of the sectoral support on the local populations.

This reporting mechanism will include details on how each sectoral support project serves the best interests of all of the local population on a geographical basis.

[mappress]
Press Release; July 15th, 2014