The two laws relating to the delimitation of territorial waters and the exclusive economic zone have been published today in the Moroccan Official Gazette after having completed all parliamentary procedures.
The publication of the two regulations 37.17 and 38.17 - which are signed by the Prime Minister on March 6 - has continued its regulatory and legislative course, without being disturbed by the state of sanitary emergency decreed in the country last year. March 20 to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
The two laws - which were passed in January and February unanimously by the two houses of the Moroccan Parliament - have raised great concern in Spain and specifically in the Canary Islands due to the possible overlaps with the Spanish maritime space that it would entail.
With the two regulations, Morocco establishes its territorial waters at 12 miles, delimits its exclusive economic zone at 200 miles, and decides to extend its continental shelf up to 350 miles.
With the regulations adopted, Morocco extends its legal protection over the maritime area that includes Western Sahara to the city of Lagüera and in the northeast to Saidia, bordering Algeria.
Morocco has insisted from the beginning of this legislative process that it does not intend to impose "fait accompli" on Spain, and has stressed that the demarcation of the maritime border will be made by mutual agreement with the Iberian country, in accordance with current international legislation.
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