The dificult implementation of the European Marine Strategy and the environment protection of the Bay of Gibraltar/Algeciras

Abstract

The transposal into national law of the European Marine Strategy represents the first step towards the establishment of the so-called European Maritime Policy. This new policy aims to provide a sustainable and coherent dimension to human interventions on the European coasts. In the Spanish case, the Law 41/2010 has transposed the EU Strategy in a much clearer manner than the wording of the EU lawmaker. One of the Spanish regions that necessitates demarcation lines is the area between the Strait of Gibraltar and Isla de Alborán, where maritime boundaries are yet to be defined. Indeed, the existence of a territorial dispute between Spain and the United Kingdom over the waters around Gibraltar and the recent conflict regarding the Sites of Community Importance (SCI) have created serious difficulties in implementing the Marine Strategy.