Spain-Gibraltar Tuna Fishing Dispute Nears Conclusionff

Source: SeafoodSource

With a view to ending the five-month deadlock, the Andalusian Federation of Fisheries Associations (FAAPE) has given the Gibraltar government a final ultimatum: Conclude negotiations on Spanish tuna fishermen’s access to waters around the Rock of Gibraltar by 30 July.

Stemming from overzealous patrols by Royal Gibraltar Police, which have prevented Spanish bluefin fishermen from entering waters around the rock, the dispute centers on Gibraltar’s recent enforcement of a 1991 protected zone for environmental reasons. Spanish fishermen insist that well-established European Union regulations give them the right to enter the zone employing their traditional fishing techniques.

With another meeting scheduled next week, FAAPE President Pedro Maza said “Both sets of technicians can exchange and analyze data related to their fishing activities. I think at next week’s meeting we will be able to settle outstanding issues and clinch an accord.” Reiterating support for sustainable practices, he said fishermen wish a return to normality so “they could continue making a living,” explaining that this has been FAAPE’s position “from the very beginning.”

Tuna fleets from two Andalusian regions, La Línea de la Concepción and Algeciras, have been particularly affected by the failure to conclude negotiations.    

Describing the hardship suffered by the 53 Spanish boats based in La Línea, fishermen’s guild representative Leoncio Fernández said, “Fishing is a cruel mistress; things are so bad sometimes my wife has to go to Cáritas (charity).”

Spanish fishermen are suspicious over the timing of the dispute, claiming Gibraltar’s hidden agenda for enforcing the rock’s protected status dissuades fishing in order to regain land from the sea to develop a luxury marina.