Nov 04 - Government Rubbishes Spanish Complaint Over BGTW Tuna Regulations
A complaint lodged by the Spanish Ministry for Food and Environment over the Gibraltar Government’s recently released Tuna Preservation Regulations has sparked a response from No.6 in which they have claimed that the Spanish Government is trying to discredit Gibraltar.
It is noted that tuna fishing has increased in recent years within BGTW, but with a lack of regulation and no sign of Gibraltar’s potential membership to The International Convention on the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) being progressed, the Government introduced measures to mirror those of the ICCAT, with some provisions proving even stricter. The Convention’s provisions do not apply to Gibraltar.
A No.6 statement on the issue insisted that previously Spain has complained about the lack of regulation for tuna fishing in Gibraltar, contradicting their current complaint. A Government spokesperson further commented, ‘the statement by the Spanish Ministry is misleading. For example it suggests that the Gibraltar regulations allow fishing for more than one species of tuna, simply because three species are listed, and implies that the permits to be issued by HMGoG will apply to waters outside BGTW. The fact that is that the Regulations are an instrument of the Nature Protection Act which, in so far as the marine area is concerned, specifically applies only to BGTW.
‘This latest Spanish initiative condemns an action taken in order to control the fishing of tuna, and not allow a free for all in British Gibraltar waters. It is a responsible act by a Government that values its natural resources and their sustainable use. The complaint shows Spain’s frustration at the fact that HM Government of Gibraltar takes its stewardship of our waters and the protection of the marine environment very seriously, and is legitimately exercising its jurisdiction and control, something that clearly Spain wishes it would not do.’
