Government mobilizes against indiscriminate fishing in South Moroccan waters

The Moroccan Ministries of the Interior and Agriculture and fisheries have held joint meetings this week with officials from the Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forests officials in Dakhla, to put an end to indiscriminate fishing in the region, which threatens local maritime resources.

An informed source revealed to Hespress AR that between the meeting, which was attended by a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Interior, ended with an emphasis on enforcing the law against random fishing lobbies in the region.

According to the same source, local authorities have counted more than 1,000 boats that do not respect the laws regulating fishing.

Hespress’ source also indicated that a number of large investors hide under the guise of “small, modest livelihood boats,“ depleting local fish wealth.

The powerful investors do not hesitate to fish during the period of biological rest, as the source explained that many fishing boats bear double ID plates, allowing them to get away with large quantities that endanger the local resources.

Such practices are not only threatening the fisheries, but these boats are also sometimes used for irregular migration and drug smuggling.

The same source considered that the recent meetings between the Ministry of Fisheries and the Ministry of Interior aimed at protecting fish resources, stressing that it is not possible to deal with the protection of these resources according to any consideration other than scientific and biological considerations, in line with the clear vision of the Kingdom.

On the other hand, Hespress learned that local authorities in Dakhla held a meeting with a number of young people who operate small boats making up their main and modest living, after they protested against a fishing ban.

Authorities both central and local have been mobilizing for over a week now, trying to limit illicit practices in Morocco’s southern waters, to protect and safeguard national maritime resources, following NGOs’ multiple pleadings and concerns.