EMEA News
Group Calls for Halt to Bunkering Activity in Waters off El Estrecho Natural Park in Strait of Gibraltar
Luis Miguel Garrido, Head of Ecology and Environment for the PODEMOS Andalusian Citizens Council has issued a call for greater control and the immediate suspension of bunkering in the Strait of Gibraltarwaters around El Estrecho Natural Park with specific reference to offshore bunkering and the use of "floating" refuelling stations in the area, local media reports.
Elestrecho Digital quotes Garrido as saying that so far in August, there have been 17 bunkering operations within the park's boundaries, and criticized that some of the offshore bunkering operations would not attract taxes or port charges for Spain.
The council has further voiced criticism of the Andalusian Government's inaction on the issue, with Garrido pointing out that the local government has never demanded that the Government of Spain put an end to such bunkering operations in the area.
"No government - neither the central nor the autonomous - is willing to listen to these allegations and open a thorough investigation on this activity," said Garrido (translated from Spanish).
As Ship & Bunker reported last year, Verdemar-Ecologistas en Acción (Verdemar) has previously expressed intentions to urge the European Union (EU) and Spanish authorities to take action to prevent pollution related to the growing bunkering activities east of Gibraltar.
