Official Spanish fisheries charts avoid disputed Gibraltar waters

GIBRALTAR If anything comes close to making clear that this whole thing about Gibraltar is nothing more than a political smoke scree, today's article by Brian Reyes in The Gibraltar Chronicle certainly does. Titled 'Spanish fisheries chart steers clear of British Waters', the first paragraph says: 'A screen shot of the Junta de Andalucia website showing Spanish designated shellfish fisheries near Gibraltar in red and green. None of them overlap into British Gibraltar territorial waters. The artificial reef at the heart of the current dispute with Spain is outside the nearest fishery, known in Spanish as a ‘caladero’. Under Spanish law, commercial fishing can only be conducted in such areas.' Read on.

Spanish skipper charged on four counts

Receiving summons at sea
(Photo: chronicle.gi)

GIBRALTAR Tensions are getting higher in the dispute over fishing rights in the waters surrounding the Rock. The skipper of the Divina Providencia, Francisco Gómez, received was handed documents on Tuesday requiring him to appear at the courts in Gibraltar on September 21, as he was fishing for sardines in the disputed waters. But as they were in English, he was not clear about what he is being charged with. Speculation among the fishing fraternity is that if he does not present himself, he will be arrested after the court date, which would create a precedent regarding jurisdiction.  Another two boats were out fishing at the same time in the same area but they did not receive any court summons, according to sources.

Gibraltar denies permission for fishing with nets

(Photo: chronicle.gi)

GIBRALTAR (GibChronicle/Agencies) Government yesterday quashed speculation that Spanish commercial fishermen would be allowed to resume their activities in local waters after August 16th by stating that they will not currently grant any permit to allow fishing with nets. The current prohibition on commercial fishing in Gibraltar waters will therefore be maintained. In a statement to the Chronicle, Convent Place said that on the recommendation of the preliminary technical report compiled by a group of experts “the Government has to maintain its current position requiring full observance of the provision of the Nature Protection Act 1991.” (Full article by F. Oliva here). In the meantime Spanish media report on the reaction>>>

They paint Spanish colours on Gibraltar number plates

(Photo: europasur.es)

ALGECIRAS The Spanish media is talking about a denuncia made by a Gibraltar man who claims that the number plates on his car was painted over with the Spanish colours while he and his family were shopping at the Puerta Europa mall in Algeciras. Clive Freyone says that his daughter's boyfriend's car also suffered similar vandalism at the same place and time: two red stripes at top and bottom of the plates. The Royal Gibraltar Police says that it can confirm the fact but 'for obvious reasons' can do little about it. The shopping mall's management says that although it tries to help in vandalism matters in its parking facility, this is 'open and free' and therefore has no responsibility. Freyone also stated, according to local reports, that he is aware that other similar damage has been reported by people he knows in Gibraltar. This follows an incident whereby a Gibraltarian woman had a Spanish flag removed in the luxury resort of Sotogrande last week; the flag was replaced after the matter became public. It is easy to assume that these incidents are the indirect result of the fishing rights dispute currently in the headlines.