Rund Abdelfatah
By Mason Jones
SPANISH fishermen could be putting down nets in Gibraltar’s waters as soon as next week, following a high-level meeting with Chief Minister Fabian Picardo.
Picardo was equally positive about the two-hour meeting, which ends a long period of sabre-rattling between the two countries.
Describing the talks as ‘constructive’ he insisted ‘considerable progress’ had been made.
But he warned the government was still going to await the recommendations of a panel of experts set up to deal with the fishing dispute.
If the report due over the next week is positive, then fisherman could be allowed back the next day.
However, Picardo added that more data may still be required before a final decision is made later in the year.
“Only when all data and information is available will the Government make a final decision,” he said.
Regardless of the outcome, fishing legislation is likely to tightened in the waters around the Rock.
A licensing system is expected to be introduced for all types of fishing.
