BRUSSELS, Oct 16 (Reuter) - The EU and Morocco will start a

seventh round of negotiations on a new fisheries agreement in

Brussels on Tuesday and talks could go on for several days, a

European Commission spokesman said on Monday.

The resumption follows an announcement on Friday by

Fisheries Commissioner Emma Bonino that a political compromise

had been struck on the framework for a four-year agreement.

The spokesman said the talks were likely to start at three

p.m. (1400 GMT), subject to confirmation of the arrival time of

the Moroccan delegation.

Resumption of fishing is especially important for Spain and

Portugal, where around 730 vessels have been tied up in port

since Morocco scrapped a previous accord at the end of April.

In the new agreement, the EU will reduce fishing in Moroccan

waters and will land part of its catch in Moroccan ports.

Bonino gave no figures on Friday. But she said both sides

have agreed on measures to better protect fish stocks and

reinforce fisheries inspections.

She added that a four-year accord would allow time for the

Spanish and Portuguese fleets to be reduced to match shrinking

stocks and for the processing industry to adapt.

Around 40,000 fishing industry jobs in southern Spain, the

Canary Islands and Portugal are dependent on the Moroccan

agreement.