At about 1015 Hrs on Wednesday the 12th of August 2026, whilst patrolling British Gibraltar Territorial Waters (BGTW), officers from the Environmental Protection & Research Unit observed Spanish commercial fishing vessels ‘La Rapida’ fishing with long lines approximately 500m off Europa Point. Officers observed how the occupants fished and landed 3 skates (a protected species under the Nature Protection Act 1991).

The owner of the said fishing vessel, namely Leoncio Fernandez was instructed to return the protected species to the water and informed that he could not fish within BGTW without a permit. Fernandez refused to comply with the request, and was subsequently reported for process for the offences of:

• Fishing with longlines in BGTW without a valid permit

• Landing a protected species, namely 3 skates.

Upon being reported Fernandez became verbally abusive to the officers threatening them in the process. On termination he was escorted out of BGTW where officers confirmed that Fernandez did not release the protected species to the water.