BARCOMorocco, after asking for months for compensation in fruit and vegetable matters, has signed the fishing agreement that will be valid for four years.

A total of 37 Boats from the Canary Islands will be able to fish in Moroccan waters after the new fishing protocol signed between the European Union and the Government of Morocco. In this way, the process that has been pending since last February is completed., when the Moroccan parliament approved said agreement, which had been ratified by the council of ministers of this African country at the end of January.

The protocol will be valid for four years and from an economic point of view, The total financial contribution will be approximately 40 million euros for each of the four years of its duration. This amount is broken down into 16 million for access rights, 14 million in sector support (cooperation) to the Moroccan fishing sector and 10 millions from payments for licenses from the different operators, which in the case of the Spanish modalities have risen around a 12%, considered acceptable.

In the category of large industrial pelagic fish, the increase in license fees and catches has been greater, since previously they paid a very small compensation.

Also, regarding political aspects, the text of the agreement has achieved a wording that respects the conditions of the Council's mandate and the resolutions of the European Parliament in relation to the defense of human rights and information on the benefit to local populations.

Among the advances achieved in the category of Canarian artisanal (minor arts) maintenance is found in the essential aspects of the fishing conditions established in the previous protocol, except the use of nasa. In this category there are established 10 fishing licenses with an approximate number of 70 crew members who can enroll in said ships, for the capture of sparids such as the seabream, the gap, the salema, the golden, etc., and sea bass mainly.

In the modality of pole-and-line tuna vessels, the essential technical conditions established in the other agreement are maintained., Although the obligation to disembark a 25% of the total annual catches of lower value species such as tuna or skipjack. A number of 23 fishing licenses and an approximate number of 205 crew members who can join said boats to fish for tuna with rods and other hook gear.

The previous partnership agreement in the fishing sector between the EU and the Kingdom of Morocco entered into force on 28 February's 2007, having a validity of 4 years and therefore its end date is 27 February's 2011. The financial compensation was set at 36,1 million euros per year.

In the year 2011, The parties signed an extension of the protocol with a validity of one year (period between 28 February's 2011 up to the 27 February's 2012), the latter pending ratification by the European Parliament.

The 14 December of 2011, by resolution of the European Parliament, voted against the extension of the fishing agreement when presenting the protocol, among others, a clearly unsatisfactory cost-benefit ratio as a result of the low utilization rate of the negotiated fishing opportunities, rates of overfishing and unaddressed ecological and social problems.

On the same date, The European Parliament approved a resolution in which it asked the European Commission to present as soon as possible a negotiating mandate for a future fishing agreement between the EU and the Kingdom of Morocco that was economically sustainable., ecologically and socially, Fishing opportunities must be adjusted based on scientific studies and respecting international law and the benefits to all affected local population groups..

Since the aforementioned date, The African country ordered the withdrawal immediately, of the EU fishing fleet from the waters of its fishing grounds.

The result of this decision was very negative for the Canarian fishing fleet., fleet that carried out a purely artisanal activity through the use of fishing gear and gear that was respectful of the ecosystem and the marine environment such as rods, hand lines, etc.

This decision forced the mooring of a fleet made up of a total of 26 fishing vessels (6 vessels licensed for artisanal fishing and 20 pole tuna vessels) generating serious damage to both the professional fishing sector and the economic activities that are developed around the commercialization of the catches made by said fleet., in the Moroccan fishing ground.

At the end of 2012 The European Union gave its approval to resume negotiations between the representatives of the Commission and Morocco for the establishment of a new fishing agreement as soon as possible.

Like this, after nine months of negotiations, the 24 July of 2013, almost a year ago, The text of the new protocol between the EU and this country was signed in Rabat, After the sixth round of negotiations, 18 and 19 of July.

The past 10 of December, in Strasbourg, The European Parliament ratified this protocol by a large majority. Also, the 16 of December, The EU Council of Fisheries Ministers approved the agreement after approval by the European Parliament.

However, The king of Morocco has extended the signing for these seven months in an attempt to obtain compensation in fruit and vegetable matters., which could be counterproductive for traditional crops of the Islands such as tomatoes..