Location
Key Information
| 335 km2 | MARINE AREA |
| 335 km2 | TOTAL AREA i |
- Commercial marine life removal is prohibited
- Both commercial and recreational marine life removal are heavily restricted
- Recreational marine life removal is prohibited, and commercial marine life removal is restricted
Regulations: MedPAN's database on Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas. MedPAN. February 2020.
Boundary: Flanders Marine Institute (2019). Maritime Boundaries Geodatabase: Maritime Boundaries and Exclusive Economic Zones (200NM), version 11. Available online at https://www.marineregions.org/. (Unmodified)
2.0
November 2024
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Purpose
British Gibraltar Territorial Waters (BGTW) have long been recognized as an important marine area due to its rich diversity in species and habitat. Sea cliffs, caves, reefs and sandy marine habitats all form part of the marine ecosystems found within BGTW. The abundance and richness of species is largely influenced by the strong currents and upwellings that are so characteristic of the Straits of Gibraltar
Species of Concern: striped dolphin, common dolphin, bottle-nosed dolphin, fin whale, loggerhead sea turtle, green sea turtle, Mediterranean ribbed limpet, date mussel, fan mussel, long spined sea urchin, sperm whale, orca, long finned pilot whale, leatherback turtle
Regulations Summary
Restrictions
Prohibited fishing gears and methods in the entirety of BGTW currently include:
1. Seine nets;
2. Gill nets including trammels;
3. Drift nets;
4. Any pot or device for raking the sea-bed; and
5. Any form of artificial light used to attract fish.
The following restrictions apply to tuna fishing in territorial waters:
1. Fishing for tuna without a license.
2. Fishing for tuna during the closed season (as defined by the Minister).
3. Breaching any conditions of a tuna fishing permit.
4. Selling tuna caught during the closed season.
5. Providing false information in any material particular.
6. Obstructing a person in the execution of duties under these regulations.
7. Use of any gear prohibited under section 10 of the Nature Protection Act 1991.
8. Use of long lines for tuna fishing.
9. Using more than 2 rods or lines per person at any one time.
10. Using more than 6 rods or lines from a vessel at any one time.
11. Using more than 1 lure per rod or line.