MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Gibraltar and Spain agree on new round of fishing activities technical talks

Pedro Maza spokesman for the Andalusian Federation of Fishing Associations (Photo: ABC)

Gibraltar and Spain are edging closer to a fishing activities agreement and a further round of technical talks between the Gibraltar Government’s fishing commission and Spanish fishermen has been agreed for next week.

“There is goodwill on all sides, which makes me reasonably optimistic about the prospects of a solution” said Pedro Maza spokesman for the Andalusian Federation of Fishing Associations.

Speaking at the conclusion of a two hour meeting in Gibraltar Maza said the Spanish side will be bringing their own scientists to the meeting so that “both sets of technicians can exchange and analyse data related to their fishing activities”.

“I think that at next week’s meeting we will be able to settle outstanding issues and clinch an accord,” he declared.

Maza reiterated fishermen’s support for sustainable and environmentally friendly fishing practices, noting but not wishing to be drawn into any further discussion about other activities in the bay “which are more damaging to the environment than fishing.”

He said that as far as he was concerned, fishermen only wished a return to normality so “they could continue making a living” and insisted that has been “our position from the very beginning”.

Maza said that the political interests of the British, Spanish and Gibraltar Government were completely alien to them and they sought no involvement or to be drawn into any form of political conflict.

“We have also stated at the meeting that from our point of view time is running out, this situation cannot drag on endlessly and with the goodwill that seems to exist it should not be that difficult to move forward.”

From the Gibraltar government there have been no official comments since “these are technical talks without political involvement”.