MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Spanish maritime guidelines acknowledge British Gibraltar territorial waters

Brid’s eye view of Gibraltar

Spain’s Popular Party opposition has complained after a Spanish ministry issued guidelines to maritime rescue services that appear to acknowledge British Gibraltar territorial waters.

According to a report in El Mundo newspaper, the guidelines from the Ministry for Development set out patrol limits for Spain’s Salvamento Marítimo and also pilotage services.
The guidelines state that rescue vessels should only sail beyond those boundaries in the event of a maritime accident or emergency.

According to El Mundo, the boundaries set in the waters around the Rock delineate a maritime border that is “very similar” to the waters claimed by Britain.

For the PP, this represents “a step back” in the “battle” over the waters, according to the party’s general secretary in Andalucia, Antonio Sanz.

“Spain has always said that the only waters that belong to Gibraltar are those inside the port,” he told reporters. Sanz said the Spanish government’s attitude toward Gibraltar-related issues was “shameful”.