Spain has just taken over the presidency of the European Union and will have to face an important challenge in the coming weeks, namely the renewal of the fisheries agreement with Morocco, which expires on July 17.
As the fishing agreement between the European Union and Morocco, essential for the Andalusian province of Cadiz, approaches its expiration on July 17, anxiety is growing among the Andalusian fishing crews. The latter, who depend on Moroccan waters for their catches, fear the consequences of the end of this agreement.
The fisheries agreement between the European Union (EU) and Morocco will expire on July 17, just six days before the early elections of July 23 in Spain. A situation that risks undermining the fight against drug trafficking, immigration and terrorism between the two countries.
Agents of the Civil Guard of the Maritime Service of Ceuta have intercepted three Moroccan fishing boats using driftnets, an illegal practice. Several trapped species, such as dolphins, turtles and tuna, were able to be released.
Faced with the "passivity" of the authorities, the association of fishermen of Carboneras (Almería), better known as Carbopesca, intends to take radical measures against Moroccan boats that continue to fish illegally in Spanish waters.
A Moroccan fisherman from the port of Mazarrón (Murcia) died on Tuesday while fishing in Altea (Alicante). He accidentally put his foot in a net and was dragged to the bottom of the water.
Morocco will take all "legal measures" against any Moroccan fisherman who practices illegal fishing methods in Spanish waters, said Mustafa Baitas, the government spokesman, on Thursday.
About a dozen Moroccan boats are said to be engaged in illegal fishing activities in the waters near Motril. Their presence is denounced by a Spanish fishermen’s organization that calls on the authorities to take action.
Reacting to the issue of the fishing agreement with the European Union which expires on July 17, the Moroccan Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Mohamed Sadiki, assured on Wednesday that Morocco "is ready for any scenario" and will use "another rule" to negotiate the renewal of the agreement.
The Spanish Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, has expressed his concerns about the future of the European Union (EU) fishing agreement with Morocco. As Spain is the main beneficiary of this agreement, its termination could have negative economic consequences for Spanish shipowners.
The Spanish Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, announced on Monday that Spain will seek the help of the European Union in the event of the expiration of the fisheries agreement with Morocco on July 17.
A marine fish farm worth 10 million euros will soon be built in the Tangier region by the National Agency for the Development of Aquaculture (ANDA), following an agreement signed during the last Halieutis international fair in Agadir. The project will be carried out in collaboration with the Israeli company Agrigo, specialized in the development of turnkey agricultural complexes.