Management of Marine Living Resources in the Waters around

134 Pages·2013·6.16 MB·English

Report to H.M. Government of Gibraltar on
“The Management of Marine Living Resources
in the Waters around Gibraltar”
December 2012
Authors:
1
Dr Chris Tydeman
2
Indrani Lutchman
1
Chris Tydeman is an independent consultant on environment and development issues based in Surrey, UK.
Contents
Foreword .............................................................................................................................. 7
Summary ............................................................................................................................. 10
Introduction......................................................................................................................... 21
Background .......................................................................................................................... 24
UK Overseas Territory and relationship to the EU.................................................................. 24
Nature Protection and Sustainability ...................................................................................... 24
Biodiversity Action Plan and global commitments ................................................................. 26
Nature Protection Act 1991 and Fisheries .............................................................................. 27
Previous Analysis of the Fisheries Issues ................................................................................. 28
Marine Special Area of Conservation ...................................................................................... 30
Rescinding the “Joint Understanding” .................................................................................... 30
Biodiversity in the Mediterranean ...................................................................................... 32
Biodiversity hotspot ................................................................................................................ 32
Fish .......................................................................................................................................... 33
Marine Mammals .................................................................................................................... 34
Seabirds and Fisheries ............................................................................................................. 35
Species and Habitats – The Biodiversity Action Plan .............................................................. 37
Intertidal Habitats and Species ............................................................................................... 38
Sub-littoral Habitats ................................................................................................................ 39
Artificial Reefs ......................................................................................................................... 40
Sandy Substrates ..................................................................................................................... 40
Maerl ....................................................................................................................................... 41
Summary ................................................................................................................................. 42
Human Interactions in the Mediterranean ........................................................................ 43
Historical Perspective .............................................................................................................. 43
Changes in Species Composition ............................................................................................ 44
Exploitation of Marine Resources ........................................................................................... 45
Fishing and Marine Protected Areas ....................................................................................... 46
Threats in Gibraltar ................................................................................................................. 48
Fisheries Exploitation and Management in and around BGTW ............................................. 50
Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 50
Methodology ........................................................................................................................... 50
Review of Current Fisheries in the Waters around Gibraltar ................................................. 52
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Fishing areas in and around BGTW ......................................................................................... 52
Commercial Fisheries in and around BGTW ............................................................................ 53
Algeciras .................................................................................................................................. 54
La Linea ................................................................................................................................... 59
Recreational fisheries - Gibraltar ............................................................................................ 63
Regional fisheries .................................................................................................................... 65
Fisheries policies and laws relevant to management of fisheries in and around Gibraltar ... 67
Spanish Fisheries Regulations ................................................................................................. 67
Gibraltar Law on Marine Fisheries and Environment ............................................................. 69
Regional Fisheries Management by the GFCM ....................................................................... 70
Analysis ................................................................................................................................... 73
Fisheries Analysis and Conclusions.......................................................................................... 76
The European and international situation ............................................................................ 78
Politico-legal Situation ............................................................................................................ 78
Mediterranean Structures ....................................................................................................... 78
Regional Cooperation ............................................................................................................... 80
Alboran Sea ............................................................................................................................. 81
Barcelona Convention ............................................................................................................. 82
UNEP Regional Sea .................................................................................................................. 83
Specially Protected Areas Protocol ......................................................................................... 84
ICZM Protocol .......................................................................................................................... 84
MPAs in the Mediterranean .................................................................................................... 84
Bonn Convention - ACCOBAMS .............................................................................................. 87
Biosphere Reserve ................................................................................................................... 89
European Union processes – Biodiversity Strategy ................................................................ 90
Marine Strategy Framework Directive .................................................................................... 92
Conclusions ......................................................................................................................... 95
Recommendations ............................................................................................................. 101
References ......................................................................................................................... 106

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Contents
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Foreword

The exploitation of natural resources in areas with international borders has throughout
history provided both a source of conflict and an opportunity for co-operation. This is even
more so today, when these natural resources continue to decline steeply. Such situations can
cause tension between states, but have also resulted in some of the most far reaching
international co-operation agreements ever seen.

The situation in Gibraltar provides both possibilities, and it is up to administrations with vision
to arrive at solutions with substance but without conflict. But solutions must be informed
ones.

It is for this reason that H.M. Government of Gibraltar, with the agreement of authorities and
interested parties both in Gibraltar and in neighbouring communities in Spain, commissioned
a panel of persons with experience in fisheries and marine protection, to look at available
data, set the Gibraltar situation in an international context, and make recommendations for
the Government to consider.

This is the work that is presented in this document.

H.M. Government of Gibraltar will be taking its analyses and recommendations into account
as it develops a strategy for the protection of the marine environment and the sustainable use
st
of marine resources in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters forward into the 21 Century.

The Hon Fabian Picardo The Hon Dr John Cortes
Chief Minister Minister for Health and the Environment

Her Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar

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7
Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all the persons who assisted us in compiling this report.

Special thanks to the Working Group for the invaluable contribution of their knowledge in
local matters.

Working Group composition:
Chris Tydeman
Indrani Lutchman
3
Eric Shaw
Alfred Vasquez
Stephen Warr

4
Thanks are also due to Dr Ignacio Sobrino for his role in the fisheries analysis.

The authors would also like to thank the secretary of the fishing cooperatives in Algeciras and
La Linea: the representatives of the three fishing clubs in Gibraltar, specifically for the data
provided and the Nature Conservancy Council. Further thanks are extended to all those who
gave up their time and allowed us to interview them.

Finally, the authors would like to thank the Government of Gibraltar.

3 Eric Shaw is the Marine Section Head, The Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society
Alfred Vasquez is a member of the Committee of the Gibraltar Federation of Sea Anglers
Stephen Warr is a qualified environmental scientist
4
Dr Ignacio Sobrino is a scientific Researcher from the Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Cadiz (Spain)
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AnnexAensn exes

Annex I. The “Joint Understanding”.
Annex II. Joint Communiqué and Memorandum of Understanding to establish a Joint Working
Group.
Annex III. Draft Terms of Reference for the Joint Gibraltarian-Spanish Working Group.
considering the sustainable management of marine living resources.
Annex IV. List of commercial fish species in Gibraltar targeted by Spanish fishermen.
Annex V. The Barcelona Convention lists of protected species (SPA/BD Protocol).
Annex VI. ACCOBAMS Resolution 4.9 Fisheries Interactions with cetaceans.

List ofL fiisgtu oref sf igures

Figure 1. Reported frequency of occurrence of threats (% of MPAs, n = 62).
Figure 2. Aerial photograph of Gibraltar.
Figure 3. Fishing methods used by Spanish fleets in and around BGTW.
Figure 4. Total landings and value - Algeciras (1985-1999).
Figure 5. Total landings for the top ten species (1985-1999).
Figure 6. Total landings by species for Algeciras (2002-2011).
Figure 7. Number of boats and fishing days for total Algeciras fleet (2002-2011).
Figure 8. LPUE for top four species fished by the fishing fleet from Algeciras.
Figure 9. Fishing vessels (with palangres) from Algeciras.
Figure 10. Total landings of five vessels from Algeciras vessels in Bay of Gibraltar.
Figure 11. LPUE for the key species fished by Algeciras fleet in Bay of Gibraltar.
Figure 12. Conch raker from La Linea.
Figure 13. Preparation of long line hooks in La Linea.
Figure 14. Total landings and value – La Linea (1985-1999).
Figure 15. Total landings of the top species (1985-1999).
Figure 16. Total landings by species for La Linea (2002-2011).
Figure 17. Fishing effort (number of vessels and fishing days) for the La Linea fleet (2002-
2011).
Figure 18. LPUE for key target species – La Linea (2002-2011).
Figure 19. Catches by species for Gibraltar fishing club (2009, 2011-2012).
Figure 20. Catches by species for Tarik Club (2009-2011).
Figure 21. Catches by species for the Medsac fishing club (1998-2012).
Figure 22. State of fish stocks in the Mediterranean.
Figure 23. State of fish stocks in the Mediterranean.
Figure 24. Parque Natural del Estrecho – Spanish system of protected areas.
Figure 25. Fisheries exclusion zone in Punta Carnero.
Figure 26. Map of the area of competence of the GFCM.
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“The Management of Marine Living Resources in the Waters around Gibraltar”
SumSmumarmya ry

1. Ongoing disputes between the Government of Gibraltar and the fishing
communities of Algeciras and La Linea came to a head once more in May 2012
following an incursion by Spanish commercial fishing boats into British Gibraltar
Territorial Waters (BGTW). This followed a decision by the incoming Government
in Gibraltar deciding to enforce the provisions of the 1991 Nature Protection Act
which prohibits certain types of fishing gear including nets. The previous
Government had allowed illegal fishing under the terms of a so-called “Joint
Understanding” dating from 1999.

2. To seek resolution the Chief Minister of Gibraltar agreed a Memorandum of
Understanding with Spanish fishing interests following which a Joint Commission
was established between Gibraltar and the Spanish fishermen with an
independent Chairman. A Working Group was established in Gibraltar to feed into
that process.

3. Two formal meetings of that Commission were held during which the Spanish
members withdrew from the Memorandum of Understanding. Also the scope of
the work and both timetable and terms of reference could not be agreed.
Technical expertise was available through an independent fisheries expert on the
Working Group but was missing on the Spanish side. However requests for
inclusion of such an expert were eventually met. Informal meetings were held with
the fishermen in both La Linea and Algeciras where some landing data were made
available for consideration. However, the independent fisheries expert then met
with a representative of the Instituto Español de Oceanographía (IEO) in Cadiz and
a longer time series of statistical information was provided and subsequently added
to the previous data. These data were analysed by the independent fisheries expert,
and the analysis of the Spanish data has been reviewed and finalized taking into
account the amendments from the Spanish expert, Dr. Ignacio Sobrino.

4. Despite the desires of the Spanish fishermen to discuss only fisheries issues the
extent of the review was taken to be the “Sustainable Management of Marine
Living Resources in the Waters around Gibraltar.”

5. Gibraltar is an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom and as such the UK
claims a 3nm limit around the Territory under international law – British
Gibraltar Territorial Waters. Gibraltar also forms part of the European Union but is
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