The European Court of Justice has ruled the EU-Morocco fisheries agreement from 2019 invalid, citing the lack of consent from the people of the Western Sahara – a disputed territory. The sustainability of resource exploitation in the area is seriously called into doubt by this decision, particularly in light of Morocco’s ongoing pursuit of additional accords, such as a revised fisheries agreement with Russia. Future agreements must give equal weight to the rights of local residents and sustainable resource management as the whole community struggles with the effects on the environment and the economy.
On 4 October, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in a final judgement maintained its 2021 ruling that the European Union’s fisheries agreement with Morocco is invalid, due to the inability to secure the approval of the Sahrawi people in Western Sahara. The judgment has a big impact on both economic and environmental aspects of the region’s fishing industry, in addition to its geopolitical ramifications.
The Court determined that the fisheries agreement, which permitted European vessels to fish in Moroccan-controlled waters off the coast of Western Sahara, was concluded without the required approval of the indigenous people. Environmentalists have long maintained that resource extraction in the Western Sahara should only be permitted with local agreement, given the potential for overfishing and unsustainable practices. The Court’s ruling emphasises how important it is to manage resources in disputed areas in a responsible manner. The decision serves as a reminder that, especially in delicate and contentious areas like the Western Sahara, the effects on the environment and society must come first in international trade and resource agreements.
The livelihoods of European fishing vessels that had been operating in the region are directly impacted by the collapse of the fisheries accord, especially those belonging to Spain and other EU nations. Long-standing alliances have been strained, and the halt has sparked questions about how sustainable fishing methods could be implemented in these fish-rich seas going forward. Although the industry is extremely upset about the ruling, which stops what they consider well-managed fishing operations that adhere to EU sustainability requirements in this significant region of West African waters, Europêche has said it will respect the Court’s decision.
On the other hand, Morocco has moved forward with expanding its fisheries deal with Russia to include the waters surrounding the Western Sahara. Despite the EU’s legal ruling, Morocco is continuing to work toward asserting sovereignty over the natural resources in the region.