The Ministry of Agriculture is involved in the scandal of catching tons of small fish and throwing them into the sea, and this is what it decided against those involved.

Agadir 24 | Agadir24

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forests was involved in the scandal of catching tons of small fish and throwing them into the sea.

According to informed sources, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, upon learning of the matter, called for an urgent meeting to be held at the headquarters of the Central Atlantic Fishing Chamber in the city of Agadir, in the presence of representatives of the Chamber and some processors, the Marine Fishing Delegation, the National Ports Agency, the captain of the port of Agadir, the maritime gendarmerie, fish merchants and representatives. Professional associations.

The same sources confirmed that this meeting concluded with the imposition of administrative penalties on some processors and boat owners who pledged not to catch small “barbelish” fish and to refrain from throwing these fish into the sea, without documenting this in commitments.

According to the same sources, during this meeting, professionals and those representing the administrative side responsible for controlling fisheries discussed what is happening on land, where it was agreed to adopt 70 “anchoba” fish per kilogram, and to raise the share of these fish catches from 13 to 15 tons per trip, in order to control the size of the discharges and protect fish wealth from depletion.

In addition, it was agreed, during the aforementioned meeting, to form a committee to track the valuation of fishery products and manage the flow of work throughout the week.

In response to this issue, the United Union of Coastal and Traditional Fishing Sailors at the National Level, which is affiliated with the National Labor Union in Morocco, revealed that the leaked scandal of catching fish below the legal size is considered “part of other scandals in the coastal fishing sector that are not disclosed and are accused of fishing.” Surface level below the permissible legal size, especially in a number of the Kingdom’s southern ports, with some unscrupulous people resorting to throwing the caught products into the sea.”

In the words of its general secretary, Rashid Al-Suhaili, the union denounced “some boats resorting to throwing tons of fish into the sea after catching them in light of the presence of advanced radars and technical means, and in light of working with drifting drift nets.”

Al-Suhaili called on the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries to “issue a report clarifying the size and nature of the sanctions imposed during the aforementioned meeting,” stressing the need for “these injunctive measures to be strict and harsh because the matter relates to a national fish wealth that is being squandered in secret and in excess, and bragging in public about the commitment to conservation.” on it for future generations.”

On the other hand, the union activist called on the Royal Marine Gendarmerie to “strike with an iron fist on violators, and to deal strictly with owners of boats that do not adhere to labor laws at sea.”