The Moroccan Navy is set to conduct live-fire exercises in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Western Sahara, approximately 140 kilometres southwest of Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria, from September 1st to December 31st, from 7:00am to 6:00pm every day.
The maritime exercise area is defined as being 20 nautical miles from the coordinates L 26° 50’ N and G 014° 00’ W, situated off the southwestern coast of El Aaiún, and remains outside Spanish territorial waters.
Sources close to the exercise confirmed the notification to the Spanish Ministry of Defence and assured that the manoeuvres are scheduled to take place outside of the Canary Islands' territorial waters.
During a similar exercise conducted from March 29th to June 28th of this year, which was also close to the Canary Islands, concerns were raised by the regional government even though Spanish Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, emphasised that the drills were held in "well-defined areas far from Spanish waters."
The Cabildo de Fuerteventura has expressed strong opposition to the naval exercises, citing potential risks to marine life. The President of the Cabildo, Lola García, has voiced her concerns following the notification from the El Aaiún Maritime Fisheries Delegation. She plans to seek further information from the Spanish government to understand the full scope of the exercises, assuming that they have been duly informed.
García highlighted the environmental risks posed by these military exercises in an area renowned for its rich biodiversity, describing it as one of the "most biodiverse oceanic corridors on the planet." She warned that the manoeuvres could significantly impact numerous unique species inhabiting and transiting through the region, referencing the 2002 incident involving the stranding and death of 14 beaked whales.
Furthermore, García views the exercises as a possible violation by Morocco of the United Nations resolution concerning Western Sahara.
