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Angling federation welcomes action to stop
illegal use of nets in Gibraltar waters
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The Gibraltar Federation of Sea Anglers has followed closely the incident that took place on Sunday last, during the bank holiday week-end. It applauds the action taken by Kaelan Joyce who had the foresight to call the Police when he spotted a commercial Spanish fishing vessel laying nets off the South Mole.
This is illegal under the Nature Protection Act 1991, even though the relevant provisions of this Act were suspended by the informal Algeciras Fishing Agreement 1999.
When the Police attended there was some confusion as to the exact interpretation of the applicable laws. Although the Police initially told him that the Spaniards could not fish with nets in Gibraltar waters this was contradicted when the officers attending the scene sought clarification from their command structure. The officers in attendance then told Kaelan that they could in fact fish with nets because they were more than 225 metres away from the shore line. This is the distance that is allowed under the infamous informal Algeciras Fishing Agreement of 1999 that for nearly 13 years has allowed our waters to be exploited by Spanish commercial fishing using illegal fishing methods. The suspension of the provisions relating to the use of nets and other illegal fishing methods has also had the effect of preventing the Police from enforcing that Act when local fishermen use these illegal methods as well.
The impact on the marine environment in Gibraltar waters has been devastating. And it is not just the nets that are being used to bad effect, killing fish and other marine life indiscriminately. GFSA gets regular reports that raking for shell fish takes place close to the shore line on the East Side on a regular basis and that pots are being used 24/7 to catch protected species like Spider Crab. These illegal practices have to be stopped.
Whilst the Federation was fully aware that this Government had rescinded the Algeciras Agreement and that the Nature Protection Act 1991 was fully in force, this message had not filtered down to the pertinent authorities charged with the task of enforcing the relevant provisions. This incident has served to highlight this.
SUPPORT
The Government has now set the record straight on this matter and the Federation welcomes wholeheartedly, applauds and fully supports the statement made clarifying their position, that this Government does not recognize the 1999 informal agreement and that it has asked the Police to fully enforce the provisions of the Nature Protection Act 1991 that relate to fishing in Gibraltar waters.
This was one of the 10 Red Line Issues that formed the basis of the Angling for Change Campaign that the Federation fought when the previous administration were in office, for the last 2 years that they were in power. Now there is a new Government that is listening and more importantly cares about the marine environment. This is a very important first step that has been taken to protect the marine environment and puts a stop to the ‘free for all’ that has been taking place in Gibraltar waters for so long.
GFSA does not support the use of nets, pots and rakes within Gibraltar waters by any fisherman. These methods of fishing are banned and therefore illegal in Gibraltar. It urges its members and the public to report suspicious incidents to the Police so that they can take the necessary action under the Nature Protection Act 1991.
CLARITY
Now that there is clarity on this matter let us all help to ensure that the provisions of this Act are enforced, not least because the drift net season is about to commence once again. This Act will protect those sport anglers that are often involved in unpleasant incidents with the commercial fishermen who use this method of fishing that is banned in Europe and by the United Nations worldwide.
16-03-12
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