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Illegal Fishing Goes on Undeterred: Control of Gibraltar's waters has become a joke
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EXCLUSIVE
by PANORAMA reporter
The enforcement of illegal fishing by Spanish vessels and the regular incursions including the non-protection of British/Gibraltar waters around the Rock is now reaching chaotic if not pathetic proportions!
One of our reporters was witness Friday to one of many frequent and practically daily incidents at/off Eastern Beach.
Our reporter in fact was in the area investigating reports of smuggling of cigarettes, when his attention was drawn by the sound of a vessel near the shore. It was a Spanish fishing vessel that had arrived very close to the shore itself and had proceeded to lay its long fishing nets approximately 100 metres from land in what appeared to be in a circular motion than along a straight line.
POLICE LAUNCH NEVER ARRIVED
Our reporter proceeded to take photographs and was joined by members of the public, many of whom appeared incensed on seeing the Spanish vessel. Someone called the police at about 1035; in the meantime the Spanish vessel continued its illegal operations.
About 10 minutes later, a marked police vehicle arrived with two young officers who proceeded to talk to the person who had reported the incident to the police station.
The officers then proceeded to walk down onto the beach towards the runway, although at one point one of the officers started to shout at the Spanish fishing vessel from the back of the beach, an exercise that appeared futile, given the distance involved, as no one could possibly hear what he was shouting from the distance he was, including the Spaniards one presumes!
The officers came back to the roadway and confirmed the police launch had been dispatched to deal with the Spanish fishing vessel, this now nearly 25 minutes after the first call.
The officers were also informed regarding the six Spaniards nearby who had been involved in the smuggling of cigarettes, nothing happened; these people were not approached by the police.
Our reporter then went to another nearby location to observe proceedings, in fact there was nothing much to observe, except for the fact that the police launch never arrived and the Spanish fishing vessel continued fishing at leisure, after which they collected all their catch and proceeded on their merry-way back into Spanish waters.
PROTECTION OF WATERS BECOMES A JOKE
The enforcement of sea patrols has turned into a complete joke. It’s not a laughing matter by any sense of the word were the issue not so serious.
But whatever instructions are dished out to RGP officers when these type of reports from members of the public come in regarding incidents of this nature, they do not appear to be dealt with effectively enough - or not at all.
It is no wonder that Spanish vessels of all types enter our waters with impunity it seems, just how long can a situation like this continue without a serious incident occurring, or someone actually getting killed, everything appears to be in the lap of the gods.
However what is clear is that Politics is Clearly Playing a Hand in This Area of Policing. Is it in Gibraltar's Best Interests?
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