Frigate sinking: “a cover-up”

THE Balearic environmental watchdog, GOB, and the international wildlife protection organisation Greepeace have criticised the Balearic government over their plan to sink the frigate Baleares in waters off Calvia. Both groups claim that the government is promoting the idea as a deterrent to illegal dragnet trawling but in reality, they claim the Administration is using the sinking as a means of disguising their inability to cope with the problem of unauthorised fishing in any other way. Ten official complaints have been put by GOB and “Greenpeace” to the Balearic coastal department which studies applications for granting of the use of areas of seawater which fall within the public domain. Currently under scrutiny is such an application which has been made by the regional ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries to allow the sinking of the obsolete frigate. The project is being spearheaded by Calvia Town Council in conjunction with Calvia Foundation 2004 and is intended to form part of the marine reserve of the Malgrat Islands. The watchdog groups claim that if the plan goes ahead, diving activity will be increased in areas which should be set aside for the protection of marine life.