Spain extends aid for Campo fishermen

Spanish fishermen who claim their livelihoods were adversely impacted by the construction of Gibraltar’s artificial reef in 2013 will continue to receive from the Spanish government this year.

The Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Food and the Environment confirmed that it would maintain the aid package, which runs to around 450,000 Euros and will be paid using EU funds allocated in the 2016 budget.

The ministry analysed the level of compensation together with the fishing sector to set amount that each vessel should get.

The information was published in the Spanish Government’s official gazette, Boletín Oficial del Estado, yesterday in a legal document which explained its objectives and distribution policy.

“It has been confirmed that in 2014 and 2015 Gibraltarian authorities have not ceased their harassment of the Spanish fishing fleet and continue to obstruct their normal activity in the area,” the document said.

“This fleet’s inability to fish led to a loss of income which was followed by a loss of employment and the worsening of the economic situation in the area.”

The compensation, which commenced on 1 August 2015 and concludes on 31 July 2016, will go towards the fishing associations of Algeciras, La Línea and the Asociación de Armadores Productores de Algeciras.