APPENDIX 4
Joint Understanding between the Gibraltar
Government and Spanish Fishermen, 3 February 1999
EN GIBRALTAR—3 DE FEBRERO 1999
El sector pesquero del Campo de Gibraltar respeta
de hecho el derecho de las autoridades gibraltarenas a legislar
las leyes que con referencia al tema pesquero estimen conveniente
y por lo tanto respeta la validez de la Nature Protection Ordinance
(ley de Gibraltar).
Igualmente el sector pesquero se compromete
a respetar las instrucciones de las autoridades policiales de
Gibraltar en la aplicacion de dicha ley.
Por consiguiente ambas partes entienden que
se debe de volver al status quo existente en el periodo 1991 y
comienzos de 1997 y que por lo tanto la ley se aplique con el
mismo grado de tolerancia que durante ese periodo.
El gobierno de Gibraltar manifiesta que su objetivo
no es que se aplique la ley con mas rigor que antes y por lo tanto,
al igual que durante 1991 a 1997 habra pesca por tolerancia en
la aplicacion de la ley y no por derecho o invalidez de la misma.
Esto se demostrara por el respeto que todas
las embarcaciones del sector pesquero tendran hacia las instrucciones
de la policia gibraltarena.
Ambas partes han discutido a fondo lo que significa
un retorno a la situacion de status quo, de hecho y en
practica, en terminos de la naturaleza y el grado de firmeza de
la aplicacion de esa particular ley de Gibraltar. El gobierno
de Gibraltar le pedira a Su Excelencia el Gobernador que le pida
a la Royal Gibraltar Police que aplique la ley en esta base de
entendimiento.
ANEXO
Despues de haber discutido a fondo lo que significa
un retorno a la situacion de status quo, es decir, volver a la
situacion en el periodo 1991 a 1997 ambas partes entienden que
la ley se aplicara estrictamente en las siguientes circumstancias:
ZONAS
1. Zona occidental
— Distancia a la costa: menos de 225
metros.
— Numeros de buques calados: no exeden
4.
— A estos efectos los botes luceros
no seran considerados como buques faenando.
Nunca se podra obstaculizar la entrada y salida
de las dos bocanas del puerto de Gibraltar ni entorpecer el movimiento
de buques.
2. Zona de levante
Menos de 225 metros de la playa o costa.
Las circunstancias aqui resenÅadas no
significan que se permite la vulneracion de la Nature Protection
Ordinance (ley de Gibraltar), comprometiendose el sector pesquero
a respetar las instrucciones de las autoridades policiales en
cualquier caso.
Se mantendra el contacto para cualquier aclaracion
que fuera necesaria de este entendimiento.
JOINT UNDERSTANDING ISSUED BY THE FISHERMEN
AND GIBRALTAR GOVERNMENT
The fishing sector of the Campo de Gibraltar
respects as fact that the Gibraltarian authorities have the right
to legislate in relation to fishing as they see fit and therefore,
as such, respect the validity of the Nature Protection Ordinance
(Gibraltar law).
Equally the fishing sector undertakes to respect
the instructions of the police authorities of Gibraltar in their
enforcement of that law.
As a consequence both sides understand that
there should be a return to the status quo which existed
in the period 1991 to the start of 1997 and that thus the law
will be applied with the same level of tolerance as during that
same period.
The Government of Gibraltar states further that
it is not its objective to apply the law with greater rigour than
before and therefore as in the period 1991-97 there will be fishing
through tolerance in the application of that law, and not as of
right and not due to the invalidity of that law.
This will be demonstrated through the respect
that all vessels will have towards instructions from the Gibraltar
police.
Both sides have discussed in depth what a return
to the status quo means, in practical terms, in terms of
the nature and level of firmness of the enforcement of that particular
Gibraltar law. The Gibraltar Government will ask His Excellency
the Governor to ask the Royal Gibraltar Police to enforce the
law on the basis of this understanding.
ANNEX
After having discussed in detail what a return
to the status quo and therefore to the 1991-97 situation
is, both sides understand that the law will be applied strictly
in the following circumstances:
AREA—WEST
SIDE (BAY)
Distance from the coast 225 metres.
Number of fishing boats: no more than four.
(In this respect the luceros are not considered boats actually
fishing).
At no time can any entrance or exit of the two
openings of the ports be obstructed nor will the passage of ships
be hindered.
EAST SIDE
In areas less than 225 metres from the beach
or coast.
The circumstances here described do not mean
that any transgression of the Nature Protection Ordinance (law
of Gibraltar) is permitted, and the fishermen undertake to respect
the instructions of the police authorities in every case.
Contact will be maintained so as to provide
such clarification as may be necessary of this understanding.
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