7 April

The ‘Junta de Andalucia’ on instructions from the central Government in Madrid have stationed one of their Environmental Protection Vessels in Algeciras belonging to ‘La Agencia de Medio Ambiente y Agua de Andalucía’ (equivalent to our own Department of Environment Protection Department) they have also been handed instructions to enforce EU nature protection laws in BGTW under the EU Habitats Directive, PANORAMA can confirm.

This move by Madrid has been visible over the past two or three weeks where the Spanish State Environmental Vessel ‘Cormoran Granada’ has entered BGTW a number of times and taken executive action by attempting to enforce EU directives on Spanish fishing vessels mostly those involved in illegal fishing activities in local waters, which has been on most days over the past few weeks.

Spanish Fishing Vessels Allowed to Fish in BGTW With Total Impunity

And even though the Spanish environmental vessel has been chased out of local waters by the Royal Navy, it has returned, simply because the Spanish fishing vessels have been allowed to continue fishing in BGTW and with total impunity… sounds strange but true.

Why is the serious matter of the Habitat Directive issue, now repeating itself? Apart from it being a political ploy by Madrid, it goes much further than that.

In fact we made enquiries with people close to the Spanish environmental agency people now based in Algeciras who said that they have been instructed to enforce these EU directive laws, stating that their Government has been monitoring the situation in Gibraltar waters. They have observed that environmental laws in ‘special areas of conservation’ have not been properly enforced and that their government has instructed them, that if the local authorities in Gibraltar do not enforce the environmental laws they will carry it out under the EU directives.

And ‘that even though the ‘Prawn Pots’ used by the Spanish fishing vessels are not illegal in Spain (although they are under Gibraltar nature protection laws) they must be used in designated fishing grounds approved by EU laws and not in special areas of conservation, including those in BGTW’.

It is obvious the Spanish authorities are closely monitoring the situation in BGTW. Unfortunately not enough or little is being done to effectively enforce local nature protection laws, thus encouraging it.

New Unit Not effectively Supported by Police it Seems

As this newspaper pointed out recently in a similar report, with the best efforts of the newly created department of environment protection officers unit who are presently operating with limited manpower resources, this official environmental protection unit is not effectively supported, it seems, by the leading enforcement body in Gibraltar - the Royal Gibraltar Police!

We reported last week that a well informed source had informed us that the RGP on multiple occasions are calling the Environmental Protection Officers (EPO) to attend to Spanish vessels illegally fishing with nets in BGTW. And that police officers were confirming this by saying it was the police job to call EPOs regarding these breaches of local laws which was pointed out was definitely not the case, as illegal fishing under the Nature Protection Act comes under the ‘enforcement domain’ of the police and always has done.

Spanish Monitoring Enforcement of Environmental Laws

There is no doubt that the Spanish authorities are not only observing what the RGP are doing, or not doing, to enforce local environmental/nature protection laws but are also following the local press and social media who continuously criticise the police, for their inactive role regarding this important national issue.

It is also obvious, that few even in high places, have realised what damage this is doing, including the possible repercussions where it now seems, the Spanish Government wants to use the situation, to once again resurrect the enforcement and control of these special environmental areas of community importance by entering BGTW to manage EU directives bestowed on Spain by Brussels some years ago which, at the same time for the PP Government, is handy pre-election strategy to generate some much-needed votes from nationalist elements.

The ironic point about the present situation, which actually plays into Spanish hands, is that even though the Spanish environmental vessel has been seen taking executive action in BGTW, when they have approached and stopped the Spanish fishing vessel, and later themselves told to leave local waters by the Royal Navy, the fact is, that the RGP have repeatedly allowed these Spanish vessels to continue their illegal fishing activity in local waters, using illegal fishing equipment. But also allowing them to continue fishing in these so-called ‘EU special areas of conservation’ and where now, the EU and Spaniards have taken an obvious interest it seem.

Local Fishermen Witness Flagrant Fishing Practices!

Two local fishermen who do not want to be named approached Panorama over the weekend. These men were out fishing a few times last week in both the Eastern and Western areas of Gibraltar. They handed over to Panorama some photos which they had taken of the Spanish prawn/lobster fishing vessel, and the Spanish environmental vessel and they even took a photo of the RGP’s new launch ‘Sir Adrian Jones’ which they had not actively seen on water for a number of weeks.

Spanish Fisherman Ignore Environment Protection Officers Instructions

They also informed Panorama that on one of the days last week they were off Camp Bay when they saw the Spanish fishing vessels engaged in prawn fishing activity. They observed that at one point when they came up close, the Gibraltar ‘Department of Environment Protection Vessel’ approached one of the Spanish vessels and heard the local authority tell them, and on more then one occasion that it was illegal what they were doing, but they continued fishing. The local fishermen say, they then saw and heard the Spanish fishermen in an aggressive tone insult the people on board the local environmental vessel, who it seemed to them, were trying their best to unsuccessfully stop the Spaniards from fishing.

At one point, the local fishermen briefly spoke to the Spanish fishermen from one of the vessels but whilst still close but on the opposite side, the RGP Rhib arrived with 3 officers on board, the department of environment vessel was still by the Spanish vessel.

Shocked to Hear Police Instructed to do Nothing!

The local fishermen informed us, that the RGP vessel came alongside both the environmental vessel and Spanish fishing vessel. We are further told, there was what appeared to be a heated conversation, where at one point, the local fishermen were shocked, to hear the RGP clearly say to their environmental local colleagues, that they, the police ‘were under instructions not to do anything’ At this stage, the local fishermen slightly moved away and noticed officers from both agencies in deep conversation, and also saw one of the RGP officer’s videoing a conversation he was having with one of the Spanish fishermen. Shortly after, we are further informed, the RGP suddenly left, but the Spanish vessel remained fishing, the environmental vessel also left the area.

Senior Police Officer Calls Minister To Complain About What?

Subsequently, further enquiries by Panorama revealed from an informed police source, that a senior police officer had contacted the pertinent minister and had apparently complained regarding the incident in the above set of circumstances just described between the Spanish Fishing Vessel, the Department of Environment Protection Vessel and the RGP marine craft, that arrived on the scene. Although our source would not elaborate or give any specifics as to the exact nature of the call to the minister concerned.

There are two important facets to this report.

The first important facet… is that already there appears to be growing friction between the Police and the new Department of Environment.

The RGP are having a hard time convincing the majority of the public, that they are actively engaged in enforcing any part of the nature protection act. From what is visibly witnessed and recorded by members of the public, the police have adopted a totally tolerant operational approach to the enforcement of illegal fishing activity in BGTW.

For their part, the Department of Environment Protection Officers are largely dependent on the support of the police to ensure that their environmental protection activity is operationally effective. If this is not happening, then something needs to be done to ensure that the police and environment protection officers are working together to ensure all environmental laws are effectively complied with.

And if the latter does not happen, then as crew of the Apollo 13 moon mission once said ‘ Houston (in our case, Gibraltar), we have a problem’

The Second important facet…is another extremely important aspect to this report, which I covered at the start, regarding what the Spanish Government in my opinion, again appears appears to be attempting to slowly impose themselves in BGTW, under the guise of enforcing EU environmental laws.

Spain only two short years ago legislated laws based on this erroneous EU Habitat directive. However, whichever way you look at it, technically, the designation of the Estrecho Oriental site gives Spain legal obligations and responsibilities in local waters in relation to nature protection. At the same time it seems, allowing them the powers to enforce these laws in BGTW.

Margallo Already Threatened to Enforce EU Environmental Obligations

Margallo has already threatened he would enforce Spain’s EU environmental obligations by sending more of his paramilitary troops into BGTW – But not to protect fishermen, but to protect the marine environment which pathetically, his own fishermen are destroying on a daily basis.

The Spanish Government we know now is closely monitoring the situation in Gibraltar. They have obviously observed, like the rest of us, that the lead enforcement body, the police, have decided to take ‘a long enforcement sabbatical’ in relation to its nature protection responsibilities.

The issue of enforcement, or to be more precise non-enforcement, could be entering a tricky if not dangerous phase. Where sovereignty of local waters could again directly become a daily issue of friction, mainly because local nature protection laws are not being enforced, as they should.

A situation that may have opened the door to more turbulent times ahead where the Spanish Government could even produce a mountain of evidence to the EU - proving Gibraltar is doing little to protect these EU special areas of conservation because official enforcement responsibility by the principal official policing body… is being ignored!

07-04-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR

Training facilities could boost U-17 progress

 Football pitches could be placed on top of new developments like the World Trade Centre as training facilities, according to our Under-17 manager.

Under Stephen Head's tutelage, Gibraltar's Under-17 selection made a stunning jump in standards during the local round robin tournament at the Victoria Stadium last week.

Head said that his team performed over and above expectations at the International Uefa Development Tournament: "We beat two countries that we played previously, having lost 3:2 to Malta and drawn twice with San Marino in the past. only lost on penalties against Macedonia whose level is much higher than ours at the moment.

"I think the boys played brilliantly, sometimes even out of their skins in three good team performances. Some of them who have previously participated in these tournaments had to deal with defeat so it was nice for them to sense what it is to win a match."

The public got right behind the boys on all three matches, with a large turnout for all three matches, considering they were friendlies at under-17 level.

Tactics

The experienced Uefa licensed coach said commitment on and off the field has been notable: "Our tactical awareness is improving while the boys have started realising that they have to look after themselves even more so when they're not with us. They're eating better and going to the gym by themselves because I can't be by their side 24 hours a day."

Tactically he found that the game against Malta was "near perfection" so much so that against San Marino they struggled to change it when they saw they were on top, managing to push a bit more after half-time to achieve the 3:0 scoreline.

Head admitted the influx of foreigners has helped raise the standard of the senior game, but welcomed the proposal of a 50% cap due to be introduced by new Gibraltar FA president Michael Llamas in our local league.

"We hope the three or four foreign players in each team will help young boys with their technique, commitment and general level," he said. "What we can't do is completely fill our clubs with foreigners so there is no space for up-and-coming players."

"We shouldn't be making the mistakes other small countries like us have made over the last ten years; we should be learning from them so we can correct it. In that spirit, we welcome Llamas' announcement."

Commitment

Part of the problem with young players is their commitment to the cause, sometimes not even instigated by themselves but by parents who prefer they focus on their studies or return home for lunch instead of go on a training session. "If a boy doesn't want to get up at 7:30am he will stay behind; you need that discipline and commitment but if you don't give it you are not going to get anything back," continued Head. "In the old days you could be a bit-part player but these days within Uefa it's changed completely."

With some of those players even getting paid by the top clubs as they go through the ranks, it is setting apart those who want to commit totally to football on the Rock and those who are just in it for the ride. It is this commitment that creates continuity and confidence, something which was seen in the team's performances at this past development tournament.

Training progress

"Now we're hoping that nine or ten of the under-17s actually get to the full national team as we're bringing them up with the siege mentality. I suppose that's something us 'llanitos' are good at," he chuckled. "We have to keep progressing but at the same time people have to realise is that we may play Malta and lose 5:0 because their next generation might be much stronger than ours."

The only way to keep up our progress is by having more training facilities. "A pitch could even be built on top of the tower blocks as part of their refurbishment," said Head. "We had a meeting with a Uefa delegate last week and he said Gibraltar needs a Technical Director to take us that one step forward, but that would have to come out of GFA funding."

07-04-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR

Young wallet creators hit high spot

 After the success of Gibraltarian students in the Young Enterprise UK national finals where groups among them came second in 2013 and third in 2011, Bayside and Westside students are already gearing up for this year's local competition which will qualify them for the UK event. We talked to three students - designer Matthew Feetham, sales director Musa Millan, and deputy managing director Raphael Peralta - who formed a company called Clarity as part of this competition.

"Minimalism's really what the brand is about," said Feetham. "It's about living life with as little distraction as possible. That was an idea that clicked with all of us at the beginning of the year, because it's definitely a growing trend, which is something we spent a lot of time making sure of."

Clarity entered this year's Young Enterprise Gibraltar competition in September, one out of nine teams in total, with around 100 students participating altogether. Each team is assigned a teacher and two business advisors, with Clarity having John Paul Risso from Restsso and Nigel Acris from Hassans.

Decision-making

"We had a lot of ideas when we first got together as a team but only a few were things we knew everyone would love," said Peralta, "In the end we decided to create a new twist on a little known idea, and that's how the Illusion came about."

The Illusion's design means that it only allows people to carry the essentials, cutting out the extras that you really don't need. It amplifies the ease with which a user stores their cash as well, it's internal mechanism allowing you to throw in your cash, close the wallet, and then forget about it, as the wallet automatically organises and arranges your bills inside for you.

More in our printed edition

07-04-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR

Christmas is coming!

CALENTITA

With one thing and another, the New Year has moved in quickly and we are coming to its end, Cloti dear

You are telling me, querida Cynthia. Ya paso Easter, soon it will be summer and before we know it, the next year will be upon us, verdad?

Digo que si. There's never a dull moment, and this year con unos sobresaltos que tu me diras.

Bueno hija, es que we are now in the real world. Mira lo que pasa con mis nietos, all they do is play with their mobiles and conversations have become a thing of the past.

I mean, I remember cuando inventaron el televisho, and then our forefathers would say que everyone was watching the small screen y que se acabaron los conversations.

That's right, and now we are saying the same thing with the coming of the computer. Es que el mundo is evolving at a fast pace, oh dear.

Lo que no se acaba es el Spanish problem, what a cachonfinger that is.

Es que los Seacocks de estos tiempos must realise that this is our Gibraltar and that nothing will change that.

Our home is our home, y se acabo lo que se daba.

My dear, we all want to be friends with our neighbours, pero ellos must also want to be friends wih us, after all we are a factory for them, como dicen al otro lado of the garlic fence.

I mean, they should be grateful that we are here and we are what we are.

Mira darling, cuando los del PeePee say that Gibraltar is Spanish, they are not telling the truth, because it is not, and history and los treaties are there to prove it.

Claro. It may have been Spanish long, long ago, pero generations and generations of Gibraltarians have been born and bred here, and we are what we are.

Let them face the music, which is that they lost Gibraltar and then they confirmed they had lost it when they gave it under the Treaty of Utrecht. And that's what.

There may be some who might want it, pero, caramba, I want to win el lottery, pero eso no quiere decir que me va a tocar.

A lo mejor cuando abramos our university we could invite some Spanish politicians to attend some courses para que se enteren de una vez why this is our Gibraltar.

A lo mejor they come in droves to learn English, which would not be a bad thing, porque English is the world language. If you know English, many doors are opened.

Y ahora que we are scoring goals in intenational football, we can aspire to win the European Cup!

Es que nos tienen miedo, mira los de la FIFA nos quieren dejar fuera, porque they know that eventually we'll beat them all.

Y como no tengan cuidadito we will make Spain an English-speaking country.

Bueno, hija, let's not rush into things, after all Rome was not built in a day.

And with that thought in mind, I wish you a Happy Christmas.

Not yet, my dear, pero it will come after the hellection! Ta, ta.

07-04-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR