European Commission seeks new fish deal with Morocco 17.01 - 2012 13:43 On 5 January, the European Commission issued a request to the EU Member States, seeking their support to conduct negotiations with Morocco in order to achieve a new, long-term fisheries protocol. The fishing zones covered by the envisioned accord also include Western Saharan waters.
Fish Commissioner insists on international law15.12 - 2011 EU Fisheries Commissioner, Maria Damanaki, previously suggested EU fisheries agreement with Morocco should not apply to Western Sahara. Now, she repeats the message.Read more
European Parliament rejects EU fisheries14.12 - 2011 The EU fisheries in Western Sahara have today been voted down in the European Parliament. Reports made for the European Commission have shown that the EU fisheries in Western Sahara are a complete waste of EU taxpayers’ money, and contribute to destruction of marine life offshore Western Sahara. EU fleet must now return from Western Sahara. Read more
Human rights defender slams EU putting trade over human rights08.12 - 2011 "Be part of the solution, not part of the problem", Saharawi human rights activist Ali Salem Tamek urged the European Parliament, criticizing the illegal EU plunder of the fisheries resources offshore occupied Western Sahara.Read more
'Disgraceful agreement', Swedish legal expert labels EU fisheries 08.12 - 2011 Further EU fisheries in occupied Western Sahara "will make the EU and its member states further liable for a violation of international law", stated former principal legal advisor of the Swedish government, in a seminar in the European Parliament on 7 December 2011.
Parliament committee approves Morocco fisheries deal 24.11 - 2011 European Voice - The European Parliament's fisheries committee has endorsed a controversial €36 million deal with Morocco that gives Spanish fishermen access to the country's waters and to waters off Moroccan-occupied Western Sahara. Read more
Sharks in danger of extinction in Western Sahara 03.11 - 2011 The shark population in occupied Western Saharan waters is under threat by Moroccan and European fishing. That is one of the many disturbing conclusions of the independent post-evaluation report on the EU's fish deal with Morocco.
Budget rapporteur calls for rejection of fish pact19.10 - 2011 The rapporteur of the European Parliament’s Budget Committee recommends Parliament to reject the one-year extension of the EU-Morocco Fisheries Agreement. “Tax payers’ money needs to be spent wisely and legally”, he said. Read more
Development rapporteur urges Parliament to thumb down fish deal19.10 - 2011 The rapporteur of the European Parliament's development committee agrees with the rapporteur of the fisheries committee: Parliament should not accept the one-year extension of the fish deal with Morocco. "The right way to go is not in neglecting international law, principles of environmental sustainability or sound economics", she said.Read more
Fisheries rapporteur recommends end to EU-Morocco fish pact24.09 - 2011 The rapporteur of the Fisheries Committee of the European Parliament recommends that the EU drops its fisheries agreement with Morocco. “A waste of taxpayers' money, ecologically and environmentally unsustainable and no significant macro-economic effect”, he stated. He also questions whether the people of Western Sahara really benefit.
Divisive Fish Pact possibly referred to European Court of Justice07.09 - 2011 Is the new one-year EU-Morocco fish deal in line with international law with respect to the socio-economic interests and the exploitation of the natural resources of Western Sahara? That is the question the European Parliament may raise with the European Court of Justice.Read more
MEPs' disappointment with fisheries agreement with Morocco 01.09 - 2011 FIS - Members of the Committee on Fisheries of the European Parliament (EP) argue that the results of the fishing agreement signed between the European Union (EU) and Morocco are negative due to the high cost in relation to the profit it generates and the few advantages it offers to the Moroccan population.Read more
Ireland unsatisfied by Moroccan fish report11.08 - 2011 “I am not satisfied” Irish fisheries minister stated to Irish TV on the report that Morocco has provided to the EU. The information that the Moroccan government presented regarding the benefits that the Saharawi people gain from the EU-Morocco fisheries agreement mentions no word on the Saharawi people, nor Western Sahara.Read more
EU Council and Morocco sign extension illegal fish pact13.07 - 2011 Today, the European Council and Morocco signed the extension of the controversial fisheries agreement, which allows Community vessels to fish in Moroccan and Western Saharan waters until February 2012. In theory, that is, as the European Parliament still has to endorse the deal.Read more
The EU is paying Morocco to fish in occupied Western Sahara. The EU-Morocco Fisheries Agreement is both politically controversial and in violation of international law.
The international Fish Elsewhere! campaign demands the EU to cancel its highly unethical operations, and go fishing somewhere else. No fishing in Western Sahara should take place until the conflict is solved.
