HOOK, SINKER: AND LINE:: NO 6 EASES FISHING PROHIBITIONS:
The Gibraltar Government has bowed down to pressure from local anglers and agreed to lift the ban on fishing from several beaches around the Rock.
The decision, announced yesterday, followed scathing criticism by the Gibraltar Federation of Sea Anglers of the government's position on this issue.
Shore fishing has long been illegal from most of Gibraltar's coastline but the law was rarely enforced. The recent influx of Spanish anglers, however, has prompted a tougher stance from the authorities, one in which local anglers have also been caught up. The GFSA had complained that no discretion was being shown in the enforcementof local regulations prohi-biting shore fishing, even though the bathing season is over.
As far back as last September, the federation had asked Environment and Tourism Minister Ernest Britto to review the position, particularly in respect of Camp Bay, but this request had been knocked back, the anglers said.
Yesterday, however, the government decided to fundamentally change its position on shore fishing.In a statement, it said shore fishing from certain beaches in Gibraltar would not be allowed between October 15 and April 15.
Anglers will be limited to a maximum of two rods or lines.
"Following discussion with the Gibraltar Fishing Club, the government has relaxed the longstanding regulation that prohibits fishing from beaches," said No.6 Convent Place in a statement.
"Fishing will be allowed from beaches during times of the year that this does not interfere with beach users."
The sites where fishing will be permitted include Eastern Beach, Sandy Bay and Catalan Bay.
On the west side of the Rock, fishing will be permitted from the Keys Promenade at Camp Bay, "south of the wider concourse containing concrete tables [and] including the south facing revetment of that wider concourse."
Angling will also be allowed from the parapet wall adjacent to the car park at Little Bay.
Fishing from the actual beaches at Camp Bay and Little Bay remains prohibited, as is fishing from Western Beach.
0 comments:
Post a Comment