Report to H.M. Government of Gibraltar on “The Management of Marine Living Resources in the Waters around Gibraltar” December 2012 Authors: Dr Chris Tydeman1 Indrani Lutchman2 1 Chris Tydeman is an independent consultant on environment and development issues based in Surrey, UK. [email protected] 2 Indrani Lutchman is an Independent Fisheries Consultant based in London. [email protected] 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 4 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 5 Contents 6 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