Fishing industry professionals in Andalusia have urged the Spanish government to renew the fishing agreement with Morocco, after experiencing the significant toll of its expiration on their operations.
In a statement to Okdiario, the Andalusian Federation of Fisheries Associations described the non-renewal as a “great loss” for Spain. The Federation also criticized the government for failing to provide promised financial aid to the affected fleets.
Spanish fishing professionals have long voiced frustration over the expiration of the fishing protocol with Morocco, which previously allowed them to operate in Moroccan waters.
In July, the Spanish Federation of Fishery Organization underscored the importance of EU fishing agreements for maintaining sustainable practices and balancing economic growth with marine resource conservation, stressing the need to renew the EU-Morocco agreement.
Similarly, the Spanish Fisheries Confederation (CEPESCA) warned of severe negative consequences for the sector following the protocol’s expiration. CEPESCA urged Morocco and the EU to negotiate the technical conditions for renewal, pending the European Union Court of Justice’s (EUCJ) decision.
Spain’s government has maintained a cautious yet optimistic stance. In response to recent recommendations by Tamara Capita, the EU’s general advocate, to cancel the agreement, Spain reminded the public that these recommendations are “not binding on the Court.” Sanchez’s government also highlighted the importance of technical discussions to secure a renewal.
Meanwhile, Morocco’s Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Mohamed Sadiki, noted earlier this year that the renewal of the protocol is “in the hands of the Europeans,” underlining Morocco’s openness to partnerships that respect state sovereignty and its national maritime economy.
The fisheries agreement between Morocco and the EU, which expired on July 17, 2023, had allowed around 128 European ships to fish in Moroccan Atlantic waters. In return, Morocco received 208 million euros in the span of four years, while the volume of fish caught ranged between 80,000 and 100,000 tons annually.
The EUCJ’s final decision, expected in late 2024, will shed definitive light on the future of Spain’s fishing sector.”
