The Chamber of Maritime Fisheries of the South Atlantic organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Maritime Fisheries a training seminar for the benefit of about thirty artisanal fishermen's cooperatives at the Institute of Maritime Fisheries of Laayoune, over the period from 16 to 18 May current.

According to a press release from the organisers, 30 maritime fisheries cooperatives benefited from a training seminar on the novelties of the sector. This training is part of the capacity building programme for fishermen's cooperative managers. It is implemented by the vocational training directorate within the framework of the Halieutis Plan.

The press release indicates that the importance given to the support and accompaniment of cooperatives in the Halieutis Plan is due to the fact that they constitute a lever for the economic and social development of maritime fishing. This plan provides for the realisation of a certain number of flagship projects for the processing and valorisation of seafood products, with the creation of three competitiveness clusters, namely Tangier, Agadir and Laayoune-Dakhla. These clusters should mobilise investments that could reach 9 billion dirhams.

The seminar also aims to raise awareness among managers of the importance of sustainable management of fisheries resources through artificial reefs, ensure better use of infrastructure, and learn about the progress of the CNSS generalisation programme. Among these objectives, there was also that of inquiring about the new modifications made to the draft law 24/83 intended to govern the procedures for creating cooperatives.

Throughout the three days of the seminar, the beneficiaries attended exhibitions relating some successful experiences in terms of maritime fisheries cooperatives, as well as the presentation of the French experience in this sector. At the end of this seminar, the cooperatives were invited to formulate projects of common interest and income-generating using their own financial means with a view to improving the socio-economic conditions of fishermen and their families.

Some fishing sites considered among the most fish-rich in the region were the subject of visits by the seminar participants. Thus, the southern coastline of the Kingdom provides 80% of the production of coastal and artisanal fleets. The production capacities of fishing are around one million tonnes each year, a good part of which is intended for industry. This sector contributes to the reduction of unemployment and, through the establishment of fishing villages, to the development of the coastal urban framework of the southern provinces.