HMS Westminster arrives in Gibraltar a day after Spanish fishermen’s stand-off with Royal Navy after going into British waters 

• Warship seen approaching port of Gibraltar at around 7.15am GMT
• Day after fishermen protested over artificial reef at British outpost
• They say the concrete blocks ruin traditional fishing grounds
  

By KERRY MCDERMOTT

PUBLISHED: 08:54 GMT, 19 August 2013 | UPDATED: 13:30 GMT, 19 August 2013

Royal Navy warships arrived in Gibraltar this morning amid a diplomatic row with Spain over fishing around the British outpost.

The frigate HMS Westminster was seen approaching the port of Gibraltar at around 7.15am this morning, flanked by two smaller ships.

It sailed towards the Mediterranean enclave the day after Spanish fishermen in a fleet of almost 40 boats sailed into British waters to demand an artificial reef made of concrete blocks - which they say ruins traditional fishing grounds - be removed.

Although British, Spanish, and Gibraltarian authorities have said the Navy's arrival at the British overseas territory is for long-scheduled exercises, some in Spain regard it as provocative.

Gibraltar's creation of the artificial reef with concrete blocks, which Spanish fishermen say blocks their access to certain waters, has prompted Spain to toughen its border checks, leading to long queues for workers and tourists entering Gibraltar.

Spain claims the territory, which has a population of just 30,000, which it ceded to Britain by treaty 300 years ago.

FULL STORY: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2396991/HMS-Westminster-arr...