“Britannia used to rule the waves – but cuts make it a laughing stock”.
Published November, 2017
UKIP fisheries spokesman, Mike Hookem MEP, has slammed the Government for
“allowing” illegal fishing by Spanish trawlers off Gibraltar, saying, “the lack
of UK investment into the Royal Navy and fisheries policing and protection is
encouraging a situation where the Spanish can rob us blind.”
Mr Hookem’s comments came after furious Gibraltarians took to Twitter to
complain about illegal fishing incursions by Spanish vessels into British
Gibraltar’s Territorial Waters. Twitter users claim one Spanish fishing boat –
the Virgin Carmen 1 – is “pushing its luck” by illegally fishing on seven
separate days in October
alone.
Speaking from Brussels, Mr Hookem said, “This whole situation is down to
a lack of investment in both the Royal Navy and fisheries
protection!”
“What hope do we have of protecting our citizen's rights off Gibraltar
when we have only four vessels patrolling the coast and fisheries of the UK
mainland.
“I know the Royal Navy do their utmost to chase away vessels acting
illegally in Gibraltarian waters, but they are overstretched, underfunded and
facing further budget cuts.
“The
whole situation is ridiculous, and the UK is fast becoming the laughing stock of
the waves, rather than ruling them as we used to.
“The
situation in Gibraltar is only going to get worse as we move towards Brexit;
with the Spanish ramping up the pressure for the return of Gibraltar, against
the wishes of its citizens.
“However, this situation is a prime example of just how run down our
defences have become, and why we must have investment in both fisheries protect
and the UK’s armed forces.
“If fishing communities across Britain achieve the aim of repatriating
the UK’s 200-mile EEZ, we must have the means, the ability and the will to
protect all our waters from this type of activity, both here in the UK and in
our overseas
territories.”
