Sep 15 - Convent To Protest To Spain Following Two Guardia Civil Incidents In BGTW This Weekend
The Office of the Governor has said that it will be sending a protest to the Spanish Government after two incidents this weekend in which the Guardia Civil attempted to exercise jurisdiction over pleasure craft in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters.
The Royal Gibraltar Police and the Royal Navy challenged the Guardia Civil vessels, which later left British waters.
A spokesperson for the Convent said: “The actions of the Guardia Civil in this case constitute a breach of UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and we will be protesting this directly with the Spanish Government.”
It is believed that both incidents were related to allegations by the Guardia Civil of illegal tuna fishing within Spanish Territorial Waters. The Royal Gibraltar Police is investigating further, but is unable to comment on the details of their inquiries at this stage.
An official statement concluded: “The UK strongly supports cooperation between the respective agencies in and around the Strait of Gibraltar, including on law enforcement and maritime safety. However respect for the sovereignty of British Gibraltar Territorial Waters must be upheld at all times. Incursions are a violation of sovereignty, not a threat to it. They do not weaken or undermine the international legal basis for British sovereignty over Gibraltar, including British Gibraltar Territorial Waters.
“We remain in constant communication with the Government of Gibraltar on these issues and No. 6 supports the action taken by the Convent and the UK Government.”
