Russia and Morocco Sign New Fishing Agreement

The Moroccan Foreign Minister, Nasser Bourita, and the head of Russia’s Federal Fisheries Agency, Ilya Shestakov, signed a new maritime fishing cooperation agreement in Moscow. The four‑year pact replaces the previous agreement that expired on 31 December 2024 and establishes the legal framework and practical modalities that allow Russian vessels to operate in Atlantic waters under current Moroccan regulations.

Key provisions of the agreement

• An annual catch quota that vessels must not exceed.
• Strict regulation of authorized fishing zones along the entire Moroccan Atlantic coast.
• Defined biological rest periods in affected zones to preserve fish populations.
• Emphasis on marine ecosystem protection, prevention of overfishing, and a fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
• Strengthened scientific and technical cooperation between Morocco’s National Institute of Fisheries Research (INRH) and its Russian counterpart, including joint research and monitoring of the marine ecosystem and fish‑resource dynamics.