Spanish sports anglers get more time to fish

The Gibraltar Government has agreed to ease the restrictions on recreational fishermen from Spain who come to Gibraltar to fish.

Sport anglers in La Linea said they were happy to obtain local licences but complained they could only fish two weeks at a time and that this period could coincide with bad weather.

This was taken into consideration by the Department of the Environment and the Gibraltar Fishing Working Group and was raised again on Tuesday this week by representatives from the recreational anglers, who accompanied PSOE MP Salvador de la Encina and PSOE spokesman Miguel Tornay at a meeting with Environment Minister Dr John Cortes and representatives from the Department of the Environment and Climate Change.

“A full and productive discussion was held and recommendations made,” said a statement from the Government.

“The Fishing Working Group has since recommended to the minister that the period for which temporary boat fishing licences are given should be extended and that there should be a catch limit of 5kg plus one fish per angler.”

“These recommendations have been very positively received by the recreational fishermen.”

The process of implementing these recommendations will now require a small amendment to the Marine Protection Regulations, following the statutory consultation with the Nature Conservancy Council, the statement added.