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Spain’s Guardia Civil challenged Gibraltar waters on 47 occasions in eight months

Friday, October 5th 2012 - 19:45 UTC
Full article 19 comments

Guardia Civil vessels escorted Spanish fishing boats into Gibraltar territorial waters on 47 occasions during the first eight months of the year, according to the British Government. The information was revealed in a response to questions in the House of Lords, in which Britain also reaffirmed its position on sovereignty. Read full article

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  • briton

    IF Ghana can do it,
    so can we,

    david shift ya lazy bum, and back them up.

    Oct 05th, 2012 - 08:07 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Xect

    Its quite easy, all illegal fishing boats from this point forward are seized and the crew arrested.

    The Guardia are no match for the Royal Navy and a warship moving in on Spanish fishing vessels can be easily seized even with the Guardia present and then the next time a Guaria vessel enters British waters that also gets seized.

    Doing that would quickly put an end to the violation of British waters.

    I appreciate the British are trying to show tolerance to the Spanish government by showing them leniency given the terrible state their country is in but enough is enough now.

    Oct 05th, 2012 - 08:29 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • briton

    You can only let your neighbours encroach on you so much,
    Then you either put ya food down,
    Or they will keep pushing, until talking is to late.
    Stand firm and be counted.

    .

    Oct 05th, 2012 - 08:42 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ProRG_American

    I think you meant. “If Ghana can break international law, so can we” We all know that “we” can do it.

    Oct 05th, 2012 - 09:12 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • reality check

    RN should arrest a few of them, impound their boats and send the ferkin crews home. Harsh I know, but Drake or Nelson would have been harsher, Seems like the Dons need a whiff of powder again!!!!!!

    Oct 05th, 2012 - 09:30 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Xect

    I served for 7 1/2 years in the RN and thats what we used to do with illegal fishing off the coast of the UK.

    Ship gets impounded and the crew are arrested by the police/DEFRA (or whatever its called these days).

    Oct 05th, 2012 - 09:51 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Betelgeuse

    The colony of Gibraltar has chosen to unilaterally terminate a long standing agreement that allowed unimpeded access to Spanish fishermen in the Bay of Algeciras.

    Spain has never recognised UK sovereignty over the Bay of Algeciras. As a consequence of the actions taken by the Gibraltar colonists, Spain has signalled that it will now step up its efforts to regulate fishing, bunkering and other activities in its EU-approved nature site in the Bay of Algeciras.

    If the Gibraltar colonists have a problem with Spain’s actions then they should encourage their British over-lords to honour their commitments under the Brussels process and heed the numerous UN General Assembly resolutions requiring that the UK decolonise Gibraltar and enter into discussions with Spain over Gibraltar.

    Oct 05th, 2012 - 11:37 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • reality check

    Horse shit! Spain did not even exist when Gibralter was ceded to the Brits by treaty and you know it! Argentina did not exist! either.
    What colonists, there never were any colonists, idiot! what you think the Brits brought them there on ships! Gilbraltarians have always lived on the rock, they are the original inhabitants of the Penninsula. What is it with you people?, what gives you the right to say how people who have lived there for centuries, live their own lives? Is it because it is something you can not have? Is it placebo for your own problems? What? what is is? jealousy? envy? that makes you think that by ruining other peoples way of life, you will sort out you own!
    I've got news for you! it won't. Go away, live your lives and let them live theirs.

    Oct 06th, 2012 - 12:12 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • lsolde

    What about a shot across the bows, followed by a Marine boarding party, like HMS Cossack.
    Repatriate the crew & confiscate & sell the ship.
    Guarantee they won't come again.(warn them:-”next time, torpedo)
    (plus send Spain a bill for the fuel used etc) :-))))))))))))))
    Stop pussyfooting around with them,
    lts the only thing these people understand.

    Oct 06th, 2012 - 09:59 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • malen

    8 spain didnt exist when gibraltar was ceded to brits........................jajajaj
    so funny, it seems no country exists when britain is stealing it

    Oct 06th, 2012 - 10:50 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • EnginnerAbroad

    @10

    Spain is a massive hypocrite in this matter. It still controls two former territories in Morocco and does not show any willingness to hand these back. In addition Gibraltar was originaly owned and settled (as was most of Southern Spain) by the Arabs from Northern Africa. These had the land stolen from them by the Spanish Kingdom, (if you go and watch the fil El Cid, it explains it very well). In addition Spain ceded Gibraltar to the UK in return for Britain reconising the Bourbon monarchy of Spain. As result the UK occupied the area and developed it. Spain can not now go back on its own treaty and demand their return. Dont blame the British for Gibraltar blame Philip V of Spain who was willing to give it away in return for the support of the British Crown on him being the ruler of the rest of Spain.

    Oct 06th, 2012 - 12:54 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Conqueror

    @2 A “problem” is that the Royal Navy's Gibraltar Squadron consists of 2 52 foot patrol launches and 3 RHIBs. A better idea would be a couple of frigates home-ported in Gibraltar and a couple of flights of Westland Apaches ashore.
    @4 Which “law” was that? The one that says argieland can refuse to pay its debts with impunity?
    @7 You're funny. First, Gibraltar isn't a “colony”. It's a British Overseas Territory that has its own Government and chooses to remain associated with Britain. How it must stick in latino craws. Second, it was an illegal agreement. Illegal under the only laws that pertain to British Gibraltar Territorial Waters. The laws of Gibraltar. It was revealed only yesterday that there are documents in the Spanish National Archive, Spanish documents, that state that Spain's claim to the waters around the Rock are seriously flawed. Spain ignores this. Spain says that Gibraltar has no territorial waters because the Treaty of Utrecht doesn't mention them. However, the Treaty is irrelevant. The relevant international law is the Convention on the Territorial Sea and Contiguous Zone 1958. Incidentally, the Treaty of Utrecht doesn't mention Spanish territorial waters either. The Brussels process is DEAD! Gibraltar says so and so does Britain. The UN resolutions are non-binding. Any attempted action by Spanish authorities inside BGTW is likely to see a lot of Spanish vessels and officials arrested and jailed.
    @ It pains me to say it, but I'm afraid you're wrong.

    Oct 06th, 2012 - 01:16 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • briton

    7 Betelgeuse
    please can you show us a copy of this document of this agreement.

    if not, you will only make yourself look silly
    wont you..

    Oct 06th, 2012 - 10:38 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Santa Fe

    13 you will be waiting a long time, you won't hear back from 7 because the documents don't exist.

    Oct 07th, 2012 - 02:53 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • briton

    mmmm just as we suspected.

    another argie CFK sponsored trick..

    Oct 07th, 2012 - 05:44 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Rufus

    @9 Isolde

    Seems a bit wasteful (torpedoes aren't cheap) when a couple of 4.5” rounds would do the job just as thoroughly at a fraction of the cost.

    Oct 08th, 2012 - 10:50 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • briton

    or some firecrackers.

    Oct 08th, 2012 - 05:57 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • nigelpwsmith

    Maybe the answer lies in the history of the Rock. Back during the Second World War, the Spanish played host to Italian frogmen who swam & rode chariots across the bay to sink British ships.

    Maybe we should send some attack divers across the bay with a few hand drills and hack saws to sink the Guardia launches and their fishing vessels. They might get the message.

    Oct 12th, 2012 - 06:34 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • British_Kirchnerist

    #8 “Spain did not even exist when Gibralter was ceded”

    Neither did the United Kindom then...

    Oct 13th, 2012 - 12:48 pm - Link - Report abuse 0

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