Russia and Morocco in Talks to Extend Fishing Agreement, Including Western Sahara
Morocco and Russia Chart a Course for Continued Fishing Cooperation
Morocco and Russia are sailing towards a new era of fishing cooperation, with negotiations underway for a four-year agreement starting in 2025. This agreement would grant Russian vessels access to Morocco’s rich Atlantic fishing grounds, including waters off the coast of the Western Sahara.
The negotiations, which began before the European Court of Justice’s ruling on fishing agreements with Morocco, signal a commitment from both nations to maintain a mutually beneficial partnership. This commitment is further solidified by the recent three-month extension of the existing agreement, originally set to expire in October 2024, now reaching until the end of the year. This extension, reported by Russian economic news outlet Finmarket, provides a bridge for the finalization of the new agreement.
The current agreement, signed in 2020, permits a Russian fleet of 10 vessels to fish within 15 nautical miles of Morocco’s coastline. In return, Russia pays Morocco an annual fee of $7 million and provides 17.5% of the total value of the catch. The agreement also mandates the employment of at least 16 Moroccan citizens on each Russian vessel, fostering job creation and knowledge transfer within the Moroccan fishing industry.
This ongoing collaboration, a continuation of an agreement first established in 1992, highlights the enduring economic and diplomatic ties between Morocco and Russia. The new agreement, with its extended timeframe and continued focus on sustainable fishing practices, has the potential to further strengthen these ties and contribute to the prosperity of both nations.
