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The Kingdom of Morocco and the Russian Federation have signed a new fisheries cooperation agreement, which replaces the 2016 one that expired in March 2020. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the two parties had held several online discussions before agreeing on a common vision leading to the signing of the agreement, said a press release from the Ministry of Agriculture on Friday.
The new four-year-long agreement is the 8th of its kind since 1992. It establishes the legal framework allowing a fleet of 10 Russian vessels to fish for small pelagic species in Moroccan waters.
It also provides for scientific and technical cooperation for the monitoring of the pelagic ecosystem in Moroccan waters between the National Fisheries Research Institute and its Russian counterpart. Likewise, it allows Moroccan students to benefit from training grants in Russian establishments specializing in sea fishing.
The activity of Russian vessels in Moroccan waters offers work opportunities for Moroccan fishermen : 16 sailors per vessel at all times, according to the press release, noting that these vessels are subject to control and monitoring.
The ministry also informs that the joint commission, which will meet before the start of fishing activities, will fix the quota to be granted to Russian vessels under the first year of the agreement. It will also set out all the technical provisions and financial arrangements for the implementation of the agreement.
The agreement provides for a financial contribution made up of an annual financial compensation representing the right of access to the resources, the annual fee, as well as the regulatory fees for fishing licenses.
