End of the Plundering of Sahrawi Fishery Resources: The Polisario Front Renews its Commitment to Issue Direct Authorizations to European Fishermen
BY: Hana Saada
ALGIERS– In a significant move towards ending the decades-long plundering of Sahrawi fishery resources, the Polisario Front, the legitimate representative of the Saharawi people, has reaffirmed its commitment to issue direct authorizations to European fishermen. This decision comes after the expiration of the Morocco-European Union (EU) fishing agreement, which was illegally extended to include the waters of occupied Western Sahara. The Polisario Front made this announcement through a press release on Tuesday, highlighting the expiration date of the agreement as July 17.
The Polisario Front emphasized that the Spanish Presidency of the EU coincided with this deadline, as it was Spain’s entry into the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1986 that paved the way for European involvement and the subsequent resumption of the controversial agreements of Madrid. These agreements facilitated the massive exploitation of Sahrawi natural resources, leading to adverse consequences for the Sahrawi people.
In an effort to resolve the situation and ease tensions, the Polisario Front expressed its willingness to issue direct authorizations, presenting a transitional solution for Spanish and European fishermen and their families who have been affected by the faults committed by their leaders.
The offer of direct authorizations was initially made on July 7 by the Polisario Front and is still open, contingent on the approval of the respective governments of the fishing vessels, adhering to European regulations. Oubi Bouchraya Bachir, the Polisario Front’s representative in Switzerland and to the UN and international organizations in Geneva, stated, “The ball is now in the court of the European authorities, and in particular the Spanish, whose fleet is the first in terms of the number of vessels concerned by the cessation of fishing activities.”
The press release also highlighted the 2016 judgment of the European Court of Justice (CJEU), which declared the end of fishing activities under Moroccan licenses. This landmark judgment has been seen as a significant step forward for the Sahrawi people, who view it as a validation of their struggle to protect their natural resources.
Despite the Spanish government’s insistence, the European Commission has refrained from negotiating a new application protocol, affirming that no negotiation can take place while awaiting the CJEU’s final decision.
The Polisario Front asserted that any agreement pertaining to fishing activities in the Sahrawi territory must be approved by the Sahrawi people themselves, irrespective of any benefits. They further stressed that the fishing agreement, without a valid application protocol, is now a mere empty shell, rendering any propaganda or claims of its effectiveness baseless.
With the renewal of the Polisario Front’s commitment to issue direct authorizations, there is hope that a just and sustainable solution can be found to protect the valuable fishery resources of the Sahrawi waters and ensure the rights and well-being of the Sahrawi people.
