Overview
Status: Dormant
The European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco have had a fisheries partnership since 1995. Their sustainable fisheries partnership agreement (SFPA) entered into force on 18 July 2019, lasting for four years and renewing automatically.
The most recent protocol ended on 17 July 2023.
A dormant agreement means that the partnership exists, but there is no active protocol. As a result, with no rules on catches and contributions, the EU fleet cannot fish in the waters of Morocco. This also applies to direct licencing, in line with the agreement’s exclusivity clause and the common fisheries policy article 31(5).
However, dormant agreements can still be used for discussions and cooperation on fisheries issues.
News
Today, the European Commission published guidelines seeking to help EU countries in supporting small-scale fishers and enhancing transparency and good governance in the allocation of fishing opportunities by EU countries.
The EU is deeply concerned that most North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) members opposed the EU proposal to set the mackerel total allowable catch (TAC) in line with the scientific advice provided by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES).
On 12 November, the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) selected the tenth Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) in the field of water, marine and maritime sectors and ecosystems.