§ Dr. MarekTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will define the extent of British waters around Gibraltar. [65505]
437W
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 14 January 1999]: British waters extend to a limit of three nautical miles around Gibraltar. The limit is restricted to two nautical miles on the west side, in the Bay of Algeciras, where a median line exists between British and Spanish waters. I have placed copies of a map showing territorial waters in the Gibraltar area in the Libraries of the House.
§ Dr. MarekTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of Spanish fishing boats based in Algeciras Bay. [65510]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 14 January 1999]: We do not have a reliable figure. We are aware of 33 fishing vessels based in Algeciras port which have been sighted and recorded as entering British waters around Gibraltar. Similar numbers of other vessels based in both La Linea (also in Algeciras Bay) and La Atunara (to the east of Gibraltar) have also been seen in British waters.
§ Dr. MarekTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many incursions into British waters around Gibraltar have been made by Spanish fishing boats in each of the last three years. [65509]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 14 January 1999]: The royal Gibraltar Police recorded 520 occasions on which Spanish fishing boats entered Gibraltar waters in 1998. Detailed records were not kept in previous years.
§ Dr. MarekTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many arrests of Spanish fishermen unlawfully fishing in British waters around Gibraltar have been made in each of the last three years. [65508]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 14 January 1999]: Figures for the arrest of Spanish Fishermen for illegal fishing in British waters around Gibraltar are as follows:
- 1996: None
- 1997: 4 fishermen in one incident
- 1998: 6 fishermen in two incidents.
§ Dr. MarekTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the definition of the status quo with regard to the activities of Spanish fishing boats in British waters around Gibraltar. [65507]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 14 January 1999]: Between 1991 and 1997, Spanish fishermen entered Gibraltar waters and fished in moderate numbers, kept away from the harbour and Admiralty waters, and respected the authority of the law enforcement agencies. We have been seeking to return to that situation, including through discussion with the Spanish authorities.
§ Dr. MarekTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence he has evaluated of the use by Spanish fishermen in British waters around Gibraltar of unlawful fishing equipment. [65506]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 14 January 1999]: Section 10(b) of the Gibraltar Nature Protection Ordinance 1991 provides that the use of, inter alia, any seine or gill net or any pot or device for raking of sea bed, for the purpose of killing or taking any wild animal, constitutes an offence. The use of any fishing equipment other than fishing lines is therefore unlawful. Spanish fishing boats have used a variety of nets and rakes.
438W
§ Dr. MarekTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Spanish Foreign Minister on the possibility of a licensing and quota agreement for Spanish fishing boats in British waters around Gibraltar. [66247]
§ Ms QuinI have discussed the fishing dispute on several occasions with the Spanish Minister for European Affairs. In these discussions, the possibility of a licensing regime has been raised as one option for the way forward.