The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, and the head of the Russian Federal Agency for Fisheries, Ilya Shestakov, signed a new cooperation agreement on maritime fisheries on Friday, October 17. The accord regulates the presence of Russian vessels in Morocco’s Atlantic waters.

The signing took place on the sidelines of the 8th Intergovernmental Joint Commission between Morocco and Russia, co-chaired by Mr. Bourita and the Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Patrushev.

The agreement establishes the legal framework and practical modalities allowing Russian vessels to operate in the Kingdom’s Atlantic waters in accordance with Moroccan regulations. It sets annual catch quotas, strictly regulates authorized fishing zones along the Moroccan Atlantic coast, and defines biological rest periods established to preserve fish stocks.

In line with the Kingdom’s environmental commitments, the text emphasizes the protection of marine ecosystem, the prevention of overfishing, and the fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

It also enhances scientific and technical cooperation between the National Institute of Fisheries Research (INRH) and its Russian counterpart through joint research and monitoring programs on marine ecosystems and fishery resources.

Economic Impact and Employment in the Fisheries Sector

From an economic perspective, the agreement is expected to contribute to the development of the Morocco’s fisheries sector, generating direct benefits at both the national and regional levels.

It particularly promotes the employment for Moroccan sailors aboard Russian vessels, as well as the development of related activities, especially in the ports of the southern regions of the Kingdom, thereby reinforcing their role as regional economic hubs.

Furthermore, the agreement provides for cooperation in maritime training, offering scholarships and internships for Moroccan students and professionals in specialized Russian institutions, thereby enhancing national expertise in the field of fisheries.

(With MAP)