Morocco Boosts Fisheries Research with New Japanese-Built Oceanographic Vessel

"This is the provisional reception of the vessel at the Mitsui E&S Shipbuilding Co., Ltd shipyard in Okoyama, Japan," says the Ministry of Agriculture and Maritime Fisheries in a press release. This is one of the major orientations of the Halieutis Plan, which makes the strengthening of fisheries research one of its priorities.

"The development of a research fleet in line with international standards will allow Morocco to develop its scientific knowledge in the fields of fisheries and marine sciences, in particular through the realization of scientific surveys at sea, necessary for the assessment of fishery resources. This fleet will also enable the monitoring and collection of information on the marine environment for the development of scientific knowledge in this area," adds the same source.

The construction of an oceanographic vessel for the benefit of the National Institute of Fisheries Research (INRH) is in line with the continuation of the historical partnership between Morocco and Japan in the field of fisheries. In January 2017, a loan agreement of 480 million DH at a preferential rate had been signed between the two countries to finance this project.

In July 2018, the shipyard in charge of building the new vessel in Japan, composed of a consortium between Toyota Tsusho Corporation and Mitsui E&S Shipbuilding Co. Ltd, had been selected.