Written question asked by Mark Williams (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 3 September 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 10 September 2008. It was answered by Kim Howells (Labour) on Monday, 6 October 2008 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Morocco: Fisheries

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government regards the waters off the coast of Western Sahara as international waters; and what the status is of UK fishing vessels fishing in those waters under the terms of the EU fisheries agreement with Morocco.

Answer: [holding answer 10 September 2008]: The EU-Morocco Fisheries Agreement was agreed in 2006 and sets out the terms for which UK and other European fishing vessels may fish in the waters off the coast of Western Sahara. The agreement does not prejudice the issue of the status of Western Sahara, which the UK regards as undetermined pending UN efforts to find a resolution. Nor does the agreement represent recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over the maritime waters of Western Sahara.

Secondary information