Sep 15 - GSD Calls on Government to Regulate Fishing
The GSD has claimed that with ‘more fishing with nets in BGTW than ever before’ the Government ‘appear to be acting like rabbits caught in headlights over the fishing crisis.’
The party insists that it has been two years since the Government did away with the 1999 Agreement, but the Nature Protection Act also not being properly enforced.
A GSD statement on the matter recalled ‘that when the crisis first broke in 2012 the Government decided to commission experts to produce a Fishing Report to guide its policy. That report, which took months to be produced and then published, commended the existing legislation with its ban on fishing with nets. Despite that in November of last year the Government decided to introduce changes to the Nature Protection Act, which were intended to be a first step to regulate fishing with EU compliant nets. There are many legitimate questions that the Government refuses to answer about its policy in this area including whether Spanish Fishermen will have to apply for a licence in Gibraltar.
GSD leader Daniel Feetham commented that politics is about ‘taking and defending decisions and the Government should get on with introducing the necessary legislation to regulate fishing. We would certainly support the Government in any sensible attempt to do so. However, once regulations are introduced they have to be properly enforced. Otherwise, it makes a mockery of the rule of law, which is what is happening today.’
