RABAT, April 24 (Reuter) - Morocco and the European Union (EU) said on Monday they hoped to reach a fair fishing agreement at the start of a third round of talks, with Morocco determined to halve the number of EU vessels fishing in its waters.

EU Fisheries Commissioner Emma Bonino, in Rabat barely a week after the end of the fishing dispute between Canada and Spain, met Moroccan Prime Minister Abdellatif Filali earlier in the day. EU sources had said earlier that Bonino would be present at the talks if she felt her presence was necessary. The last round was inconclusive with both sides unable to agree the size of the reductions in quotas.

The present agreement, which allowed some 700 mainly Spanish and Portuguese vessels to fish in Moroccan waters, expires at the end of April and unless a new accord is reached, EU vessels will be barred from Morocco's rich Atlantic fishing grounds.

Morocco, like Canada, wants to protect its fishing stocks and is demanding cuts of between 30 and 65 percent depending on the type of fish, including sardines, tuna, squid and shrimp.

EU negotiators agree in principle to a reduction but say Morocco's demand for such drastic cuts cannot be met.