Editing Economy of Western Sahara (section)

==Disputes over natural resources==
Fishing and oil exploration contracts concerning Western Sahara are sources of political tension.<ref name=BBC1>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/1464966.stm "The Battle for West Africa's Fish"]. BBC News. 1 August 2001. Accessed 27 April 2018.</ref><ref name=BBC2>Lewis, Aidan. [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-16101666 "Morocco's fish fight: High stakes over Western Sahara"]. BBC News. 15 December 2011. Accessed 27 April 2018.</ref><ref name=Harris>Harris, Bryant. [http://www.ipsnews.net/2014/03/u-s-oil-firm-creates-tension-western-sahara/ "U.S. Oil Firm Creates Tension over Western Sahara"]. Inter Press Service. 11 May 2014. Accessed 27 April 2018.</ref> In 2015, a European court invalidated a trade deal between the [[European Union]] (EU) and Morocco that involved Western Sahara, prompting a diplomatic backlash from Morocco.<ref>Dudley, Dominic. [https://www.forbes.com/sites/dominicdudley/2016/05/19/morocco-steps-up-diplomatic-pressure-on-us-and-europe-over-western-sahara-occupation/#29161d323113 "Morocco Steps Up Diplomatic Pressure On US And Europe Over Western Sahara Occupation"]. ''Forbes''. 19 May 2016. Accessed 27 April 2018.</ref> In 2018, the [[European Court of Justice]] ruled that a fishing treaty between the EU and the Moroccan government did not include fishing grounds off the coast of Western Sahara.<ref>Dudley, Dominic. [https://www.forbes.com/sites/dominicdudley/2018/02/27/ecj-morocco-western-sahara-fisheries/#72717c5727f3 "European Court Rules Against Morocco Again, Barring Western Sahara's Waters From EU Fisheries Deal"]. ''Forbes''. 27 February 2018. Accessed 27 April 2018.</ref> In April 2010, the Norwegian state-owned salmon company [[Cermaq|EWOS]] stopped the purchases of [[fish oil]] from Western Sahara and Morocco (with an amount of around 10 million euros annually, and estimated between 12,000 and 20,000 tons of fish oil in total),<ref>{{cite news | title = EWOS avslutter kjøp av fiskeolje fra Marokko og Vest-Sahara | url = http://www.ewos.com/portal/wps/wcm/connect/EwosNorway/no/frontpage/nyheter/ewos+avslutter+kjop+av+fiskeolje+i+marokko+og+vest+sahara | publisher = EWOS | date = 9 April 2010 | access-date = 2 September 2010 | language = no | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110710210916/http://www.ewos.com/portal/wps/wcm/connect/EwosNorway/no/frontpage/nyheter/ewos+avslutter+kjop+av+fiskeolje+i+marokko+og+vest+sahara | archive-date = 10 July 2011 | url-status = dead }}</ref> for "not being in line with the Norwegian authorities' recommendations".<ref>{{cite news | title = Gir etter for laksepress | url = http://www.dagbladet.no/2010/04/10/nyheter/miljo/politikk/oppdrett/fiskeri/11209933/ | newspaper = [[Dagbladet]] | date = 10 April 2010 | access-date = 2 September 2010|language=no}}</ref>

In 2002, the petroleum companies [[TotalEnergies]] and [[Kerr-McGee]] were awarded contracts to explore for oil in the region.<ref name=Harris/> In December 2004, [[France|French]] oil company TotalEnergies decided not to renew their license off Western Sahara.<ref>{{cite news | title = Upstream Online: Total turns its back on Dakhla block, 2004 | url = http://www.wsrw.org/index.php?cat=193&art=1500 | publisher = [[Western Sahara Resource Watch]] | date = 3 December 2004 | access-date =2 September 2010}}</ref> In May 2006, Kerr-McGee decided to not renew the contract signed with the Moroccan Authorities.<ref>{{cite news | title=Last oil company withdraws from Western Sahara | url=http://www.afrol.com/articles/19029 | publisher=Afrol News | date= 2 May 2006 | access-date= 1 October 2010}}</ref> The US-based firm [[Kosmos Energy]] began a contract to explore offshore from Western Sahara in 2013, prompting criticism from activist groups such as Western Sahara Resource Watch.<ref name=Harris/> [[Desertec]], a [[Munich]]-based solar energy company, declined to place a plant in Western Sahara for "reputational reasons."<ref>{{cite news | title = Solar giant Desertec to avoid Western Sahara | url = https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/desertec-western-sahara | newspaper = [[The Guardian]] | date = 23 April 2010 | access-date = 2 September 2010 | location=London | first=Zara | last=Maung}}</ref>