GIBRALTAR FEDERATION OF SEA ANGLERS GFSA ANGLING FOR CHANGE CAMPAIGN: IN RESPONSE TO THE GOVERNMENT'S ANNOUNCEMENT

The Federation welcomes the Government's announcement that they are publishing a consultation paper at the end of June 2010 and are aiming to bring draft legislation before the Gibraltar Parliament at its first session after the summer recess.

This announcement starts a process that when complete will meet one of the campaign's demands which is that the Government should pass legislation and draw up plans to implement it before their current term in office ends. What is not yet known is to what extent the 10 Red Line issues, that are central to the campaign, are being met. The Chief Minister in his interview on GBC has hinted that the Government have listened and incorporated some of the campaign's demands into its plans. This is welcomed. But that it is, in his view, not in Gibraltar's interests to do so with others. Unfortunately as GFSA has not yet had sight of the consultation paper it would be improper and unhelpful to comment further on this.

GFSA can announce that it has drawn up a comprehensive list of solutions that can be applied to all its 10 Red Line demands. These solutions will be compared to those proposed by Government and form the basis of its response to the consultation paper once it is published. The Federation is determined to make sure that the Government meets these demands in full. Nothing short of this is acceptable. Legislation that may be introduced by Government will not be opposed but GFSA will continue to push for those demands that the Government deems as not in the public interest until it changes its mind.

If the Government refuses to incorporate all the Red Line issues then GFSA reserves the right to negotiate with opposition parties to ensure that it gains wider political support for its campaign. The objective is to persuade both the GSLP/Lib Alliance and the PDP to make manifesto commitments that anything not addressed by the present Government will be revisited by a new administration so that any existing legislation can be strengthened. Both the GSLP/Lib Alliance and the PDP have already indicated that they support the campaign's aims. The Federation would like to remind the Chief Minister that the GSLP have also committed themselves to introducing legislation within their first year in office, should they win the next election.

GFSA believes that this is a legitimate campaigning tactic and refutes accusations of 'political twists'. It makes no apologies for using it to press its advantage home and is fully entitled to use the current political geography to ensure that its demands are met.

However GFSA is concentrating and focusing all its efforts on trying to persuade the Government to do something radical now because this is what is needed. Had the present Government introduced the draft legislation that was prepared during its first term in office, in the late 90's, then the situation would not have been so desperate. It is the Government that chose not to act 16 years ago and not the Federation.

The Government states in its press release that …'our sports and leisure facilities must remain open to fair and proper use by residents of Spain, just as theirs are open, and are frequently used by residents of Gibraltar.' We would like to remind the Government that there is no attempt to prevent non residents from fishing in Gibraltar. What is being proposed is a control on numbers that will put a stop to the current free for all.

GFSA believes that, where angling is concerned, the Government is being wrongly advised. To be able to get a fishing license in Spain you need a NIF or a NIE. This number identifies your residency status in Spain. Without it you cannot pay your license fee. So although you can apply for a license, you will not get it unless you pay your fee but you cannot pay your fee without the NIF or the NIE. It is very difficult to circumvent this process which was tightened up after July 2009.

Consequently Gibraltarians do not qualify for a license in Spain unless they can show they have a residency status there. Most Gibraltarians that have got a Spanish fishing license have been able to do so because of this fact alone. The Federation is not proposing anything different in the case of any applicant for a fishing license here. So long as you can demonstrate that you are a resident of Gibraltar you will get one.

What cannot be tolerated is the continuing unhindered access to hundreds of non resident anglers to fish waters and a coastline that is minuscule compared to that of the rest of the Iberian Peninsula. This fact cannot be ignored when formulating proposals for licenses. Numbers of people having access to fishing in the waters and on the shoreline of Gibraltar have to be controlled and to do this GFSA is proposing the introduction of tourist, temporary or non resident fishing licenses.

If the Government chooses not to introduce controls on numbers it will curtail and limit the ability of 'el abuelito' with his grandchild from being able to go fishing whenever they want without the need to apply for or hold a permit because they will simply not have anywhere to fish. The Chief Minister's anecdotal wish and desire, which appears to be a central theme of his reasoning, openly expressed in his interview on GBC, cannot be fulfilled without controlling numbers. The fact is that improving access for 'el abuelito' to fish with his grandchild is less to do with bureaucracy and more to do with limiting the number of non resident anglers who come to Gibraltar.

For further information please contact Bernard Wright and Dario Neale, press contact persons on 20059988.

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