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Fears grow that new fishing plan could further undermine Gibraltar's territorial waters
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Fear is growing that Chief Minister Fabian Picardo may allow Spanish fishermen to carry on fishing in Gibraltar waters, in a manner that could undermine further Gibraltar's territorial waters.
For some time now Mr Picardo has been suggesting that the laws of Gibraltar may be changed to allow fishing to take place.
By changing the laws, the Spanish might be able to comply with Gibraltar law - as Mr Picardo says that the crisis is not about fishing but about the fishermen's compliance with Gibraltar law.
Thus, if he changes the laws to accommodate the fishermen, he will argue that no law has been broken, and in this round-about way, pat himself on the back!
LICENCES
There has been talk in the past that all involved in one type of fishing or another should in the first instance be required to hold a Gibraltar fishing licence.
The holding of such a licence is standard practice everywhere, including Spain. But there have been suggestions that some of the Spanish fishermen will not want to acquire a Gibraltar licence, wanting to fish here with their Spanish or some other licence.
But as we reported yesterday, in Cadiz the other day the same Guardia Civil that wants Spanish fishermen to carry on fishing in Gibraltar's British waters, are against uncontrolled fishing in Cadiz bay. In fact, 25 illegal nets were confiscated!
Angling circles in Gibraltar have long been insisting that fishing in Gibraltar be properly controlled by issuing Gibraltar licences. The notion that fishermen from any other country be allowed to fish in Gibraltar using their own country's licences, or any other licence other than a Gibraltar licence, has been deemed to be unacceptable.
The Gibraltar Sea Angling Federation has been taking the following line: "What cannot be tolerated is the continuing unhindered access to hundreds of non resident anglers to fish waters and a coastline that is minuscule compared to that of the rest of the Iberian Peninsula. This fact cannot be ignored when formulating proposals for licences. Numbers of people having access to fishing in the waters and on the shoreline of Gibraltar have to be controlled and to do this GFSA is proposing the introduction of tourist, temporary or non resident fishing licences."
In March this year they said: "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."
CONTROL
In April the GFSA said there was no turning back and added: "This administration is using current legislation to protect the marine environment whilst it draws up more robust and extensive legislation that will regulate and control all types of fishing within Gibraltar waters and along its coast line. And the Federation supports this position and gives the Government their full backing. There can be no turning back from this path.
"It is the only way that the marine environment along our coastline and within our waters can be protected from the predatory fishing practices being used by unscrupulous anglers, practices that are no longer legal or compatible with modern day sustainable fishing methods.
"Over the past couple of weeks commercial fishermen from La Linea and Algeciras have put the Government of Gibraltar under intense political pressure in an attempt to restore what they refer to as the ‘status quo’. But the Federation says unequivocally that the ‘status quo’, that is, the application and enforcement of the Nature Protection Act 1991, has now been restored.
"It is unacceptable that anyone is able to come to your country and abuse its laws by claiming that they have been exempted from them. This position is full of contradictions. How can the Police enforce the law against some anglers but, at the same time, allow others to contravene it without taking any action against them.
"Would the Spanish Government, for example, reciprocate by exempting Gibraltarians from a requirement to hold fishing licences, enabling them to fish anywhere in Spain including within their marine reserves and to target protected species whilst their own people had to abide by their marine protection and fisheries laws? GFSA very much doubts this. So why is it so different for us and why are we expected to make special arrangements with our neighbours that are incompatible with our laws?"
Meanwhile, in Spanish fishing circles it is being said that a new round of talks will take place this week when it is expected that a solution will emerge.
27-06-12
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