« First Meeting of Mediterranean Fisheries Cooperatives», a call to the promotion of artisanal fisheries cooperatives The Moroccan Department of Marine Fisheries organized, in cooperation with national and international partners and organizations, the First Meeting of Euro-Mediterranean Fisheries Cooperatives, on 12 and13 November in Tangier (Morocco) under the theme: «Fisheries Cooperatives as Economic and Social Vehicle in the Region». The main Mediterranean seaside countries interested in this important sector were present at the meeting: for instance France, Italy, Morocco, Portugal, Spain and Tunisia. International organizations such as FAO, BIT and Infosamak also took part in this event, debating the numerous structural and regulatory aspects of artisanal fishing in the Mediterranean sea. The meeting was inaugurated by Mr Mohamed Tarmidi, General Secretary of the Department of Marine Fisheries, who, on behalf of His Excellency Aziz Akhennouch, stated that the high interest granted to the creation and encouragement of fisheries cooperatives by the Ministry in charge. As a matter of fact, in the framework of the “Halieutis Plan” presented to His Majesty King Mohammed VI in October 2009, fisheries cooperatives account for a predominant component in the economical and social development of the Moroccan fisheries sector.