Last year the crew of a Western Isles trawler had spent few days sailing out of the port of Dhakla in southern Morocco as their European Union fishing quotas was too small. Now they are thinking to spend some weeks in the northwest coast of Africa. Angus Macleod, from Barra, explained that their existing quota is insufficient and they want to take the full advantage of recently renewed (2007) agreement between the European Union and Morocco that allows foreign boats to fish in Western Sahara waters.
Trawler skipper John Archie Macleod said that they have to fight red tapism in African sea as they fish outside the 15-mile zone which called foreign area and the fish they caught becomes foreign fish so they have to pay customs duty on the import. Another skipper George Nicol also explained his own experience of red tape battle with the bureaucracy. He said that even after investing in processing plant in Morocco he has to face opposition from all quarters.
Politicians, like SNP MEP Ian Hudghton, do not favour the EU fishing agreement with Morocco. According to him the agreement has breaches what should have been preserved in terms of international law and the right of people to expect support when outsider come to their area and took charge. But the Moroccan government denied the allegation saying that they have the right to govern over Western Sahara and believe that EU agreement contributes to the development of the area.
