The Government is revising the Southern Waters of Gibraltar Management Scheme which, as existing, is weak and inadequate. The protection regime which had been in place until now is therefore being supplemented and will include the regulation of all types of fishing activities in Gibraltar waters amongst other issues affecting Gibraltar’s marine resources, said environment minister Dr John Cortes in parliament this week.
The clear show of weakness of the Government of 1999 in ignoring technical advice and entering into an agreement tantamount to likewise ignoring Gibraltar’s laws, was the clear trigger for the declaration by Spain of a European SCI within Gibraltar waters.
He added: This admission by the then Government of its inability to administer protection of our marine resources will have been mischievously used in a decision to take the law into their own hands and treat our waters as if they were theirs. But this is hardly surprising if our own Government essentially agreed to Spanish law governing activities in our waters.
The best way to tackle this problem, he said, is by demonstrating that we are willing and able to offer a protection regime that is scientifically robust and will encourage the recovery of our marine habitats and species and only allow sustainable use of our resources. This will mean that the regulations that we will be introducing, which have been discussed with all relevant stakeholders in our Marine Consultation Process, will require certain restraint and control of activities currently taking place, but in the end will ensure thriving marine life with added possibilities of sustainable use.
"For the avoidance of doubt, let me state that these are regulations that we have been preparing since December to govern activities such as angling, diving and spear fishing, to replace the former Government’s inadequate and ill-conceived Marine Leisure Act proposals".
"Sound conservation science is the overriding principle that drives all our environmental work, be it in relation to local use or in relation to Spanish fishermen. It is imperative that all recognise and accept what the world already knows, that unless we protect what little remains now, there will be nothing left in the future".
"It really is sad, that neither the present Leader of the Opposition realised that in 1999 when he had it in his gift to resolve the issue once and for all, nor the Opposition now, can find it within themselves to publicly state that what I am saying is true and that what we are doing is right," said Dr Cortes.
Panorama - Gibraltar 11-07-12
