Leoncio Fernández./ Image: LLD/You Tube
The Diplomat. Madrid
Leoncio Fernández, former head of the Fishermen’s Association of the Línea de la Concepción (Cádiz), has been summoned today before the Gibraltar Magistrates Court to defend an accusation of robbery, for having removed in June 2104 one of the concrete block placed in the sea in summer 2013 by the Gibraltar authorities and which the fishermen consider makes their work more difficult.
The blocks were placed in the sea around the coasts of Gibraltar to create an “artificial reef” according to the justification given then by Fabian Picardo’s Government, which considers these waters to be within British jurisdiction, something which Spain does not accept. The Gibraltarian decision led to serious contention with Spain during that summer and to many protests by the fishermen in that the blocks also had spikes that entangled their nets.
In June 2014, professional divers backed by the Fundación de Defensa de la Nación Española (Denaes) proceeded to remove one of the blocks and although, in principle, the Guardia Civil permitted the operation, it finally prevented the continued removal of more blocks.
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Former head of Cofradía de La Línea summoned before Gibraltar magistrate today
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Gibraltar accused Leoncio Fernández of taking part in the operation and he was arrested and subsequently set free while awaiting trial. Yesterday, the Gibraltar authorities issued a note in which they stated that the Royal Gibraltar Police accused the former Head of the Cofradía de Pescadores linense of robbery, and indicated that he had been summoned to appear before the Colony’s Magistrates Court.
Fernández, aged 70, declared to Europa Press that he “had nothing to do with the affair” and that his boat “was not suitable for towing that type of block”. However, he added that if it had been up to him he “would not have removed just one block but would have removed all of them”.
