§ Mr. GillTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures he has taken and what further measures are planned to address the problem of illegal fishing by Spanish nationals in Gibraltarian waters. [67266]
§ Ms QuinIn addition to the normal enforcement measures of the Royal Gibraltar Police and Gibraltar Police and Gibraltar Security Police, we have sought to address this problem by encouraging dialogue with fishermen, both at a local level and via the authorities in Madrid. We have also reached an understanding with the Spanish authorities of the situation that had prevailed between 1991 (when the Gibraltar Nature Protection Ordinance was introduced) and 1997 during which Spanish fishermen respected the authority of the Police, and have been seeking to return to that situation.