May 26 - GSD Criticise “Fishing Hypocrisy” By Acting Chief Minister
The GSD says that, in last week’s session of Parliament, the Government “plummeted to new depths of hypocrisy” on the issue of fishing with nets in BGTW.
A statement from the Opposition issued this afternoon continues: “When Dr Cortes, the acting Chief Minister, was asked in Parliament whether he accepted that illegal fishing with nets in BGTW damages any efforts by the Government to preserve marine life, he said that “any nature reserve anywhere in the world will be subjected to some abuse of its natural assets … and if you ask me as a purist clearly I would rather that these things did not occur”. This, with respect, is a lame excuse from a Government which promised to put an end to fishing with nets in BGTW in its manifesto and a Minister who tore up the 1999 Agreement with an announcement on Facebook to a chorus from GSLP supporters of “aqui no se pesca”.
“Well not only is there more fishing with nets today than ever before, but that it should take place in the area of the artificial reef, is a serious indictment on the policy of the Government. One week the Government is patting itself on the back for laying the reef and attracting marine life to the area, and the next there are photographs appearing on social media and elsewhere of Spanish fishing vessels fishing with illegal nets in that same area, taking advantage, no doubt, of the same fish Minister Cortes says have been attracted to the area of the reef. If the situation were not so serious it would be comical.
“The Government should stop making excuses, talk less about twinning Gibraltar with La Linea, and make good on its electoral promise to stop illegal fishing with nets.
“The GSD has always been straight with the electorate. We have said that we would introduce regulated fishing with EU compliant nets during certain times of the year together with enforcement of that law. After initially criticising our policy in 2012 and 2013 the Government adopted it. However the Government lacks the courage to introduce regulations which they have told Parliament are nearly complete, for fear of a backlash from its own supporters. No doubt the Government is waiting until after the election before introducing those regulations.”
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