544 Chapter 5
MID#1118
Dispute Number: 1118
Date(s): January 1, 1972 to April 26, 1972
Participants: 600 Morocco/230 Spain
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (Negotiated)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: Morocco began seizing Spanish vessels on January 1, 1972, resulting in
over 100 seizures. The Moroccan government wanted to extend its fishing limits up
to 70 miles off the coast. Spanish naval vessels were ordered to protect fishing vessels
from possible attacks by Moroccan coast guard. The navies exchanged fire in April,
and officials from both countries discussed the dispute on April 26. However, no
agreement was reached.
Coding changes: End Date changed from June 30, 1972. Outcome changed from
Unclear. Settlement changed from None. Fatalities changed from Missing.
MID#1119
Dispute Number: 1119
Date(s): January 1973 to January 2, 1974
Participants: 600 Morocco/230 Spain
Outcome (and Settlement): Compromise (Negotiated)
Fatalities: Missing
Narrative: Following MID#1118, Moroccan King Hassan informed the Spanish
government that Morocco would end their 1969 fishing deal at the end of 1972, and
in 1973, the two countries opened talks to replace the 1969 agreement. Tensions
were high as naval forces engaged in small-scale clashes. On February 5, the Spanish
minister of commerce responded to rumors that Morocco planned to extend its exclu-
sive fishing zone to 70 miles by stating that Spain would not recognize such a claim.
Nevertheless, Morocco announced its new claim to a 70-mile exclusive fishing zone
on March 3, and on March 9, Morocco published its claim to 12 miles of territorial
waters and a 70-mile fishing zone, except in the Strait of Gibraltar and around the
Canary Islands. If these limits were accepted, Spain would be left with six miles of
water between Cadiz and Malaga and no water around the Spanish island of Alboran.
The published document left open the possibility that foreign fishermen could strike
a deal with the Moroccan government to fish within the 70-mile limit but not within
the 12-mile territorial waters.
Spain objected and ended their ongoing discussions with Morocco in mid-March
after they were unable to reach an agreement. From April 1, the Moroccan navy
began to seize Spanish vessels. The following day a Spanish air force plane clashed
with a Moroccan naval ship that had seized a Spanish fishing vessel, and on April
3, the Spanish navy seized four Moroccan vessels. Hostilities continued throughout
the month. Spain and Morocco reopened talks in late April, but the talks fell apart in
May. Morocco insisted that 200 or fewer Spanish vessels fish in Moroccan waters,
when there had been 800 previously. Morocco seized numerous more Spanish vessels
through December, bringing multiple Spanish ports to a halt and hundreds of Spanish