Dakhla is in mourning. A Norwegian fishing vessel cut a Moroccan sardine boat in two, leaving three dead and 14 missing on Saturday at dawn. The accident occurred at 04:30 in the fishing zone known as "Lassarka", some 4.5 miles off the coast of Dakhla, when the coastal fishing boat named "Taouss" was preparing to leave the port accompanied by two trawlers, medium-sized sardine boats, while the pelagic fishing boat, SRW named "Midoy Dakhla", flying the Norwegian flag, was manoeuvring to enter the bay of Dakhla. According to some sources, the "Taouss" decided to pass in front of the Midoy despite the warnings of the captain of this Norwegian boat and while the rules of passage in the bay give priority to large boats to the detriment of small ones. A decision heavy with consequences since the two ships collided, cutting the Moroccan boat in two. The same sources also revealed that the direct cause of this tragedy was due to the fact that the "Taouss" had left the port without its fishing skipper on board. The latter was reportedly in Laâyoune in the company of six fishermen. Apparently, it was his second-in-command, a novice whose name does not even appear on the navigation register according to some professionals, who was at the helm at the time of the tragedy. Worse still, the decision to set sail by the "Taouss" was taken despite the bad weather and the 48-hour strike decided by the National Confederation of Coastal Fishing (CNPC). To top it all off, the damaged boat reportedly belongs to an influential member of the CNPC, our sources specified. Obviously, only the investigation will be able to reveal the causes of this tragedy and determine the responsibilities of each party. But it is not only the circumstances of this shipwreck that are sparking debate; the rescue operation also provoked the ire of professionals in the sector. The lack of speed of intervention combined with the precariousness of the rescue means available were strongly criticised. According to our sources, the rescue teams only intervened an hour and a half after the tragedy. An aberration since these teams are supposed to be on alert given the bad weather conditions that have been hitting the region for four days. It was thanks to two boats, one of which belongs to a member of the CNPC supposed to be on strike and docked but who was on site, that 14 sailors were rescued and three bodies recovered. The others are still missing. The count of these shipwrecked people poses a problem since several of our sources specified to us that the number of the latter would exceed the 35 people registered on the navigation register. A question that forces us to wonder about the efficiency of the control and surveillance mechanisms of the crews. Our sources revealed to us that the investigation could reveal names of fishermen absent on the night of the tragedy and reveal the presence of names not registered on the navigation register. Another problem that will certainly revive the debate on the modernisation of the Moroccan fleet. Especially since some owners of these boats have benefited from significant support funds without, however, committing to the process of renewing their ships.