Rabat, Feb.02– The Moroccan national fisheries office (ONP) said it plans to invest 780 millions MAD (around 78 mln Euro) in the 2005-2009 period in order to upgrade coastal and traditional fishing.
The office unveiled its plans during the annual meeting of its administrative board held on Tuesday in Rabat, under the chairmanship of agriculture, rural development and sea fisheries minister, Mohand Laenser.

A rate of 72% of this budget will go to consolidating and continuing the upgrading of marketing infrastructures while the remaining 28% will be set aside to develop the sector and modernize the sector.

The minister explained that in addition to the octopus problem, the fisheries sector needs to face challenges of quality and improve all related branches.

Construction of fishermen villages in southern regions is among the priorities of the OPN plan which is allocating 150 million MAD (around 15 Mln Euro).

Likewise, improving the coastal and traditional fishing fleet are other important actions for which the office will set up a specific guarantee fund.

Other projects include the building of wholesale markets in order to improve the distribution network and enhance national consumption of sea products.