Morocco and Russia have signed a new agreement on maritime fishing, allowing Russian vessels to operate and fish in Moroccan Atlantic waters while providing job opportunities for Moroccan fishermen.
The agreement was signed on Friday in Moscow by Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccans Living Abroad, and Ilya Shestakov, Head of the Federal Agency for Fishery of Russia. This agreement replaces the previous one that expired.
The signing took place during the eighth session of the Morocco-Russia Mixed Governmental Committee, chaired by Bourita and Dmitry Patrushev, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation.
This new agreement, which extends for four years, outlines the legal framework and operational arrangements that enable Russian vessels to engage in activities in the Moroccan Atlantic waters, in accordance with Moroccan laws.
The agreement stipulates annual catch quotas that vessels must not exceed and precisely defines permissible fishing zones along the Moroccan Atlantic coast, along with biological rest periods to protect fish stocks.
In line with Morocco’s environmental commitments, the agreement emphasizes the protection of the marine ecosystem, prevention of overfishing, and combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Additionally, it enhances scientific and technical cooperation between the National Institute for Marine Research and its Russian counterpart through joint research programs aimed at monitoring the marine ecosystem and dynamics of fish resources.
Economically, the agreement is expected to bolster the Moroccan fishing sector, positively impacting the national economy and related regions.
It particularly encourages the employment of Moroccan fishermen aboard Russian vessels and the development of complementary activities, especially in southern ports, enhancing their role as regional economic centers.
Furthermore, the agreement includes cooperation in maritime training by offering scholarships and internships for Moroccan students and professionals in specialized Russian institutions, contributing to the enhancement of national competencies in the fishing sector.
This new maritime fishing cooperation agreement embodies the mutual willingness of Morocco and Russia to continue their beneficial and responsible collaboration, focused on preserving marine resources and the environment, promoting sustainable development, and strengthening the historical maritime relations between the two countries.
Source
