RABAT, April 30 (Reuter) - Moroccan newspapers applauded the government's firm stand in fish talks with the European Union after Rabat told more than 700 EU fishing boats to leave its waters by midnight on Sunday.

A three-year Moroccan-EU agreement that gave 730 EU vessels, of which 650 are Spanish, rights to fish within its 200-mile economic zone, expires on Sunday.

Morocco refused to extend the accord after the EU rejected its demands for sharp cuts in fish quotas during talks on a new pact last week.

"Community fishermen leave empty handed," said the French-language L'Opinion. "Hasta la Vista," chimed in the opposition al-Bayane newspaper.

There was no word on what steps Morocco would take to ensure the EU fleet left its Mediterranean and Atlantic waters.

Spanish fishermen last year blockaded the southern port of al-Geciras to prevent Moroccan fishermen from landing their catches and in November Spaniards vandalised 15 Moroccan trucks taking fruit and vegetabes to Europe after four Spanish trawlers were caught fishing without a licence.

Spokesmen for Spanish fishermen have said they would respect the ban because they want a good agreement.

Morocco, with less than a dozen surveillance aircraft, cannot monitor the vast Atlantic fishing zone. It is now demanding an increase of 35 percent in the number of Moroccan inspectors on EU vessels.

It recently issued a tender for satellite monitoring equipment, an area the EU says is open for joint cooperation.

Morocco has often accused Spanish trawlers of sucking up fish like vacuum cleaners and is now demanding cuts of 30, 50 and 65 percent in fish quotas, depending on species, because it says some fish stocks are near extinction.

It also wants fewer fishing vessels in its waters, a moratorium on fishing in the Mediterranean and a reallocation of fishing zones.

Another issue was Morocco's demand that fish catches be landed in its ports in order to stimulate the local industry. The EU wants this to be optional.

Moroccan Fisheries Minister Mustapha Sahel said on Friday that Morocco stood by its demands and indicated it was not ready for concessions.

"For the Spanish, it is all or nothing. For the Moroccans it is this or nothing," said l'Opinion.

EU negotiators have said they agree in principle on the need for reductions but want cuts spread over three years.

Third round talks on a new fishing deal, which earns Morocco $150 million a year in fishing rights and preferential tariffs for exports of tinned sardines, ended inconclusively on Thursday. They will resume in Brussels on May 12.

The accord with Morocco is the EU's most important external fisheries agreement and Moroccan newspapers have urged the government not to give in.