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Family affair THE Gibraltar Football Association is in the spotlight once again after another player pulled out of the women’s team amid accusations of a ‘divided dressing room.’ Striker Reighann Olivero, 20, accused temporary women’s coach Scott Wiseman of subjecting her to ‘unfair treatment and blatant double standards’ in her withdrawal letter that she published to social media. The Olive Press understands that Olivero felt she was pressured to drop other sports and hobbies such as hockey in order to be picked for the women’s team, while other players were not. Even when she did so, she was still dropped from the women’s squad, sources close to the situation have told this newspaper. The GFA ignored the player’s complaints when made aware of her feelings and refused requests to meet with the player’s family, according to the same sources. An open letter posted to team captain Shania Robba’s facebook page on the same day, signed by all but one of the 32 players in the women’s squad, called Olivero a ‘bitter ex-player’. “The nature of sport and the harsh reality of not being picked or played should not be confused with false accusations of bullying,” the letter read. The issue is muddied by the fact that Olivero’s father, Janssen Olivero, was the women’s team coach until he was abruptly removed and replaced by Wiseman in 2023. “That's what happens when you don't invest in women's football; players' dads coach the team which then can lead to problems,” one source told the Olive Press. “When Scott Wiseman took over there was a division in the dressing room.” When men’s team coach Julio Ribas suddenly stepped down earlier this month, Wiseman was quickly appointed interim head coach. Continues on page 2
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Vol. 10 Issue 244
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WHALE OF A BATTLE LOOMS DEADLY: Yassin Darkaoui (left) is prepared to kill an orca if they go after his vessel
EXCLUSIVE: Yachtie threatens to kill an orca this summer if dangerous ‘interactions’ are not tackled A MOROCCAN sailor is threatening to kill orcas this summer if solutions are not found to stop dangerous ‘interactions’ in the Strait of Gibraltar. Anger is rising among sailors whose livelihoods are at threat from a pod of orcas who have been damaging ships. The stark warning comes after a five-year spree saw the whales cripple hundreds of vessels. Now, a series of captains claim it has become too risky for yachts and catamarans to navigate the Strait. Yassine Darkaoui, a sailor who runs a repair shop in Tangier, has warned he is prepared to kill a whale if nothing is done. It comes after he told the Olive Press
Estimated migration end
By Walter Finch
he had fixed the rudders of three separate vessels attacked by orcas in the last year. “I meet a lot of sailors who tell me they are prepared to shoot these motherf***ers if they try to harm their boats or endanger their families,” said Darkaoui. “These guys have often invested their life savings in their boat. So when you see them being attacked by those beautiful monsters, it could lead to shooting them.” The sailor, who had to shelve plans to open a sailing centre in Tangier because of the attacks, added: “It is only a matter of time – and summer is coming. “Once the tuna migration begins the orcas will be back and it might be that we need to kill one of them to teach them a lesson.”
Prison
And he added: “But let me tell you, if I kill an orca, I will kill it with a tear in my eye.” The chilling threat comes despite the Iberian orca being a heavily protected species. Under Spanish law anyone harming an orca could face two years in prison. The interactions that have taken place since 2020 are being blamed on around a dozen of the 40 whales that inhabit the Strait. Various attempts have been made to ward them off, including throwing firecrackers overboard as orcas are acoustically sensitive to loud noises. Darkaoui told the Olive Press he also wants more research into a type of sonic tool which could be reliably used to keep them at bay. TERRORISED: The orcas target the rudders (above) of yachts and catamarans “Something that, when
Estimated migration area and routes based on satellite data from previous years DANGER ZONE: ‘Attacks’ (orange symbol) have focused around Gibraltar and the Strait but stretch all the way up to Galicia you turn it on, they stay around 500 metres or a kilometre away,” he said. Plans are afoot to trial an acoustic deterrent later this year, but it has received a cool reaction from some sections within the marine biology community. Janek Andre of marine conservationists WeWhale fears that such an implement could ‘damage their hearing, which is highly sensitive.’ “The animals could get lost or even die because of hearing damage,” he told the Olive Press. “And if all boats had the device then the orcas will have to leave the area – their home!” Conservationists and marine biologists alike have been at pains to insist that these interactions are not ‘attacks’ nor signs of aggression, but merely a playful hunting practice. Solutions proposed include skippers sticking near the coast to avoid the centre of the Strait, while remaining in frequent communication with one another. WeWhale also offers to escort boats on regular trips, such as from Tarifa to Tangier, and they plan to open a hotline this summer for skippers to call to get the last known location of the pod. The good news is that reported incidents were down last year from 2023’s peak of 186 interactions, according to data collected by the Cruising Association (CA), pointing to the effectiveness of these solutions. “These orca are protected, much like
tigers in India, and we must therefore find ways to coexist with them,” CA lead John Burbeck told the Olive Press. “We suggest treating orca encounters like stormy weather or man overboard. These are serious risks that crews prepare for.” But many skippers have described these measures as ‘unworkable’ and instead are calling for a more robust solution – one which allows them to continue their livelihoods.
Collision
“Even if you know where they are, you can’t necessarily avoid them, as these creatures are fast,” another sailor told the Olive Press. “They can go from one side of the Strait to the other in two or three hours. Sticking to the coast does seem to help, but the cost of it adds up. “Journeys take much longer and there are hazards near the coast, such as tuna nets, and sudden swells that can push you against the rocks. “You can spend two or three months waiting for a new rudder. That’s three months of lost business, which is something you can’t claim on insurance. “Anyone would defend their house if it was under attack, so you can’t entirely blame the captains. “People are afraid to go out sailing. “There is definitely a collision coming this summer.” Opinion Page 6