Spanish Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Luis Planas brushed off on Monday the Polisario’s attempt to negotiate “fishing licenses” with Canary Islands shipowners.
According to Europa Press, the Spanish minister stated that he does not give the Polisario’s attempt “great value,” because the fishing agreement is “between Morocco and the European Union.”
The separatist Polisario front had initiated talks with the Islands’ shipowners to provide them with the “fishing permits” for Western Sahara waters, as the bilateral agreement between the EU and the kingdom nears expiration..
The official additionally confirmed that the Spanish government is nearing completion of the aid order for fishing boats operating in Moroccan waters under the EU-Morocco agreement, according to Europa Press.
These boats have been impacted by the termination of the fishing agreement with Morocco since July 17.
The agreement, which expires this week, is necessary to the operation of 47 fishing vessels that operate in Moroccan seas. The boats are primarily based in the province of Cádiz.
25 of these boats use longlining, while 22 employ the purse seining technique, which requires a crew of about 500 people.
“I will sign the order before the 17th as Minister of Agriculture, to ensure that there is no pause in the support of the fishing industry,” said the Spanish Minister.
In a meeting with his Moroccan counterpart Mohammed Seddiqi, the Spanish Minister decided to urge the European Commission to review the agreement with Morocco so that “negotiations could be resumed as soon as possible and a new protocol could be reached.”
The rector of the University of Córdoba (UCO), Manuel Torralbo, met with the Spanish minister. The minister stated after their discussion that he will “consult the aid order with the autonomous communities and in the coming days.”
The arrangement permitted fishermen from Andalusia to fish in Moroccan waters for more than 1,500 tons of fish valued at $4,000,000.
The current fisheries agreement, which has been in effect since July 2019, was amended by the EU General Court in September 2021.
add your comment
Terms of publication : Not to offend the writer, people, sacred things, or attack religions or the divine self, and refrain from racist incitement and insults.