Fishermen, shipowners and representatives of the ministries of fisheries in Morocco and Spain agreed to strengthen cooperation in the fisheries sector and administrations of both countries in search of management measures of the species and safeguarding the sustainability of fisheries in the Mediterranean.
The Joint Spanish-Moroccan fishing Professional Commission, who gathered about two hundred fisheries professionals and scientists, as well as political representatives in the Second Fisheries Professionals’ Meetings on Tuesday in Tangiers, praised the work carried out for the implementation of the fisheries agreement between the EU and Morocco, since its inception in 2011. It also expressed its commitment to work to ensure the sustainable future of the sector and optimize different aspects with potential for improvement.
“The background of the Spanish-Moroccan Committee of Fisheries Professionals is a success story: business relations have been strengthened, we have helped to make the fishing reality of both countries known and we have contributed to the EU-Morocco Agreement of Sustainable Fisheries Association, with which we have all achieved a reality,” said Europêche president and CEPESCA secretary general Javier Garat.
The fishing sector professionals who participated in the meeting believe that the fisheries agreement between the EU and Morocco is the best instrument for the preservation of the common interests between the parties within the framework of respect for international law. In this sense, they applaud the appeal against the final order of the European Court of Justice.
Moreover, and in order to clarify and improve its provisions, the Joint Commission requested the opening of discussions on the conditions related to the landing obligation in Moroccan ports of 30 per cent of catches by the purse seine fleets holding licenses under this agreement.
The industry professionals also believe that scientific evidence shows that the Mediterranean fisheries stocks are under threat. Therefore, they undertake to work together with the scientific community and governments to establish appropriate measures leading to their recovery and preservation.
They also agreed on the need to properly manage the voracious Gibraltar Strait and to propose measures to ICCAT aimed at improving swordfish management.
In this regard, the meeting attendees highlighted the good results achieved through the Recovery Plan for the Mediterranean bluefin tuna, whose biomass is at record levels. For this reason, it was agreed to request ICCAT and the governments to set a TAC for this species that is at least equal to its initial level.
“Europe and Morocco are bound to collaboration and the fishing sector is one of those in which the experience shows that the joint and coordinated work is beneficial to both parties and leads to the sustainable development of a fundamental activity from the socio-economic viewpoint,” stressed Garat.
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