The Diplomat
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs presented, on Monday, a note verbale of protest to the United Kingdom over a series of incidents that have taken place this month in the waters surrounding Gibraltar and which have affected Spanish vessels.
In the note verbale, Spain describes these incidents, which have taken place in waters over which both Spain and the UK claim sovereignty and which are an ongoing source of dispute, as “serious”. El Gobierno afirma que se trata de aguas españolas, por lo que considera de las actuaciones de las embarcaciones gibraltareñas en las mismas representan una “intromisión injustificable” en la soberanía de nuestro país.
Specifically, the Spanish authorities have expressed their “strong protest” at the fact that the safety of Spanish officials on a Customs Surveillance Service patrol boat was endangered. The incident occurred on the 14th when the fast patrol vessel Aguila 2, of the Customs Surveillance Service (SVA), pursued and boarded an auxiliary vessel in the Gibraltarian port that aroused their suspicions because it was sailing without lights. When the Spanish agents stopped the vessel to identify it, it tried to escape without success, while members of Gibraltar Customs also gained access, which led to some very tense moments.
In addition, Spain complains about the harassment carried out on the 21st and 22nd by a Customs patrol boat and another one from the Royal Gibraltar Police against the fishing boat ‘Mi Daniela’, skippered by the fisherman Jonathan Sánchez from Linares, when he was fishing in a fishing ground in the waters of the Bay of Algeciras, a protest that the mayor of Algeciras and PP senator, José Ignacio Landaluce, had been calling for. In addition, the Junta de Andalucía called on the Spanish government to give protection to Spanish fishermen.
Finally, Spain protests to the United Kingdom for the requirement, last 23rd, by a vessel of the Department of Environment of Gibraltar, to a recreational boat of our country that was fishing tuna in the mentioned waters, in front of Punta Europa.
The waters surrounding the Rock are not included in the waters ceded by Spain in the Treaty of Utrecht, which is why our country has always claimed sovereignty over them, while the United Kingdom classifies them as British Territorial Waters of Gibraltar, and tries to prevent Spanish vessels from operating in them.
Last Monday, Gibraltar’s public television channel, GBC, stated that the UK would protest to the Spanish government about the presence of the Spanish Navy vessel P72 Centinela in the disputed waters, which usually patrols the area in fulfilment of its mission to protect national maritime interests.
