TWO Spanish environmental groups have denounced illegal fishing crews for killing dolphins in the Bay of Gibraltar.
PACMA and Verdemar have both submitted complaints that illegal tuna fishing in the Straits of Gibraltar is leading to the ‘unnecessary deaths of dolphins’.
PACMA, a political party that champions animal rights, is leading calls for an investigation into whether the crimes are being committed in Spanish or Gibraltarian waters.
“The death of these dolphins is done with clear malice,” a PACMA spokesman said. “The abuse of these dolphins should not go unpunished by any legislation, be it Spanish or British.
“We demand that the council of agriculture and fisheries open an investigation to shed light on the horrible death of these sensitive animals.”
Both groups claim dolphins are regularly killed after being caught up in nets from boats illegally fishing for tuna.
Verdemar claim there are ‘at least 15’ boats regularly fishing in the Straits without appropriate licences.
