Spanish fishermen have staged a protest in the Bay of Algeciras over an artificial reef built by Gibraltar authorities that severely dampens their yield

Spanish fishermen have staged a protest in the Bay of Algeciras over an artificial reef built by Gibraltar authorities that severely dampens their yield.

The Spanish fleet of 38 fishing boats, with six Spanish police escorts, set sail across the Strait of Gibraltar on Sunday where they were faced with 14 British naval and other Gibraltar vessels moving in formation.

The confrontation stopped at that as Spanish and Gibraltarian spectators came to the ports of La Linea de la Concepcion and Algeciras waving their national flags with some wearing T-shirts reading “Gibraltar is Spanish”.

“We just want to send a message to Gibraltar,” said Leoncio Fernandez, the head of the La Linea fishermen’s guild. “All we want is to fish where we have always fished.”

The fishermen complain that since last month they have lost a large proportion of their annual revenue as they no longer have access to rich fishing grounds.

Gibraltar authorities sunk 70 concrete blocks into the sea at designated fishing points last month to form a reef, which damages fishing nets.

Tensions have mounted between Spain and Britain over the tiny territory as leaders from both countries seek to take action over the disputed territory.

Gibraltar was occupied by Britain in 1713 and has been since a bone of contention between Madrid and London.

The United Nations lists the strategic 6.8-kilometer area that overlooks the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean as a territory waiting to be decolonized.