Morocco signs bilateral agreements with three African countries – Morocco Today
The purpose of these MoUs is to implement fish stock assessment campaigns by the National Fisheries Research Institute in the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) of the three countries.
partnership”
The concluded agreements concern the transfer of advanced experience and scientific research.
New impetus is given to South-South cooperation in the field of fisheries. The Minister of Agriculture, Marine Fisheries, Rural Development and Waters and Forests, Mohamed Sadiki, held a series of bilateral talks with his African counterparts within the framework of the second high-level edition of the Blue Belt Initiative held on Tuesday 31st. January in Agadir. According to Mohamed Sadiki, the holding of these bilateral meetings testifies to the deep commitment of the Kingdom of Morocco to the African continent and the desire to establish sustainable South-South cooperation, allowing to revive the fishing sector, taking into account the difficulties. development, sustainability of the sector and protection of its resources. At the end of these meetings, three memorandums of understanding were concluded between Morocco, the Republic of Benin, the Republic of Liberia and the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire.
The aim is to strengthen the dynamics of global partnership engaged in African fisheries cooperation. This convergence also demonstrates the interest and willingness of stakeholders to work for the conservation of marine resources and the protection of the marine environment. “The signatories noted that it is in their common interest to ensure the protection and responsible and sustainable management of living resources in the marine waters under their respective jurisdictions,” said the press release of the Ministry of Ecology. and water and forests. In detail, these MoUs aim to implement fish stock assessment campaigns by the National Fisheries Research Institute in the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) of the three countries. “With the desire to strengthen friendship and technical and scientific cooperation, and based on requests for scientific support from Benin, Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire, Morocco, the new oceanographic fisheries research vessel “Al Hassan Al Marrakchi” and the teams of the National Fisheries Research Institute of the National Fisheries Research Institute of these three countries will be mobilized to provide scientific research for the assessment of fish stocks in its waters”, – we learn from the same source. And it should be noted that “the financing of these campaigns in Benin and Liberia is with the help of the Conference of Ministers of Fisheries Cooperation between the Atlantic Ocean and African States Bordering (COMHAFAT) will be provided, and Côte d’Ivoire will bear the related costs. this assessment is at the level of the MEB”.
It should be noted that in the exchanges held between Mohamed Sadiki and his African colleagues, proposals for cooperative measures in the field of fisheries in the fields of maritime training and scientific research, exchange of experts, strengthening of the capacity of managers and operators in the fisheries sector were discussed. , the organization of study visits for the benefit of senior officials responsible for fisheries and marine aquaculture, and exchange visits between economic operators in the fisheries sector to develop private partnerships. The parties also discussed the creation of a framework cooperation agreement on marine fisheries to formalize the existing partnership with these countries to share Moroccan experience and transfer good practices with technical support and accompaniment. They also proposed new fisheries cooperation agreements that take into account developments in fisheries, aquaculture and ocean affairs around the world. Meetings of the joint commission for the restoration and continuation of cooperation in the field of fishing for these countries will also be organized. “
