The territory, formerly under Spanish control, was occupied by Morocco and Mauritania in 1975, but Mauritania later renounced its claim. The pro-independence Polisario Front has long fought for self-determination in the region. However, efforts by the United Nations to organise a referendum for the people of Western Sahara to determine their own future have foundered.

"This agreement, if it goes ahead, would give Morocco rights over Western Sahara fishing waters – so, basically, it reinforces the illegal occupation. It is also contrary to international law," said Louise Richards, executive director of War on Want, a London-based non-governmental organisation.

"International law says that where there is such an occupation, that there shouldn’t be this kind of agreement," she told TerraViva.

Richards believes the fishing agreement has failed to attract international attention because of its complexity and the fact that Western Sahara is not high on the global agenda.

"It was easy to slip it through…And, it’s up to civil society (to highlight the matter): we now are aware of the problems with this fishing agreement, and we’ve drawn it to public attention."

Mohamed Sidati – the Polisario Front’s representative in Europe – said the movement will continue to oppose fishing in Western Sahara’s waters, even if the accord is finalised.

"We will continue to say that the European Union has again committed an injustice against the Saharawi people. And, we will continue to fight this accord, so that it can be made to conform to international law," he told TerraViva.

"And, I think that we will not be alone in this fight."