In a recent address, a high-ranking Moroccan official admitted to the extensive exploitation of natural resources in the occupied Western Sahara, particularly in the fishing sector. The official revealed that more than 85 percent of Morocco’s fish production comes from the coasts south of Boujdour, indicating a severe depletion of fish stocks in northern Moroccan waters. This overfishing is now endangering the remaining stocks in the southern regions.
“The Mediterranean Sea has become a disaster area,” the official stated, emphasizing that the once-bountiful waters are now largely barren. Fishing activities in the Mediterranean are restricted to small quantities of octopus during the season, with most fishing boats now repurposed for tourism in the summer months. The situation is so dire that there are ongoing discussions about closing fishing in the Mediterranean for several years to allow for ecological recovery.
This stark admission underscores the urgent need for effective management and conservation efforts to protect the region’s marine resources from further devastation
