Agadir: Series of interviews with Mr. Sadiki on the sidelines of the High-Level Conference of the Blue Belt Initiative

Monday, January 30, 2023 at 10:43 PM

Agadir – The Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests, Mohammed Sadiki had Monday in Agadir, a series of talks with his counterparts from other African countries, on the sidelines of the second edition of the High Level Conference of the Blue Belt Initiative which will be held on Tuesday in the capital of Souss.

Thus, Mr. Sadiki held bilateral meetings with Abraão Aníbal Barbosa Vicente, Minister of the Sea of ​​Cape Verde, Mavis Hawa Koomsoon, Minister of Fisheries Development and Aquaculture of Ghana, Idrissa Traore, Ambassador of the Côte d ‘Ivoire in Morocco, Gaston Cossi Dossouhouin, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of Benin, the representative of the Minister responsible for fisheries of the Republic of Liberia and Director General of the National Fisheries Authority and Aquaculture of Liberia, Emma Metieh Glassco.

The discussions focused on cooperation topics relating to Morocco’s experience in the development of the fisheries sector, particularly with regard to the proposal for fisheries cooperation actions in the areas of maritime training and scientific research.

The talks also examined issues related to the exchange of experts, capacity building for managers and operators in the fishing sector, the organization of study visits for the benefit of senior officials in charge of fishing and of marine aquaculture and exchanges of visits between economic operators in the fishing sector to promote private partnership.

It also involves the establishment of a framework agreement for cooperation in the field of maritime fisheries to formalize the existing partnership with these countries for the sharing of Moroccan experience and collaboration for the transfer of good practices with the technical support and accompaniment.

There is also talk of the proposal for new fisheries cooperation agreements which take into account the development of fishing, aquaculture and ocean affairs in the world, as well as the organization of sessions of the joint commission to relaunch the fisheries cooperation for these countries and its follow-up.

Speaking on this occasion, Mr. Sadiki stressed that the holding of these bilateral meetings testifies to Morocco’s deep attachment to the African continent and the desire to establish sustainable South-South cooperation, making it possible to revitalize the fishing sector. taking into account the challenges of the sustainable development of the sector and the protection of its resources.

At the end of these talks, the Minister signed three memorandums of understanding respectively, with the Republic of Benin, represented by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Gaston Cossi Dossouhoui , the Republic of Liberia, represented by the Director General of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority, Emma Metieh Glassco and the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire represented by Ambassador Idrissa Traoure, on behalf of the Minister in charge some fishing.

The objective of the three memoranda is to carry out fish stock assessment campaigns by the National Institute for Fisheries Research in the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) of the three countries.

Driven by the desire to strengthen the ties of friendship and technical and scientific cooperation, and following requests from Benin, Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire for scientific support from Morocco, the new oceanographic fisheries research vessel “ Al Hassan Al Marrakchi” and the scientific teams of the National Fisheries Research Institute will be mobilized to carry out scientific prospecting for the assessment of fish stocks in the national waters of these three countries.

The financing of these campaigns in Benin and Liberia will be provided with the assistance of the Ministerial Conference on Fisheries Cooperation between African States Bordering the Atlantic Ocean (COMHAFAT), while Côte d’Ivoire will bear the related costs. to this assessment at the level of its EEZ.

The signing of these memorandums of understanding reinforces the global dynamic of partnership initiated within the framework of African fisheries cooperation and testifies to the interest and the will of the stakeholders to work for the preservation of living marine resources and the protection of the environment. marine environment.

The signatories stressed that it is in their common interest to ensure the conservation and responsible and sustainable management of biological resources in the maritime waters under their respective jurisdictions.