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Revision as of 14:39, 6 May 2021
 | This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. |
| 2021 Jersey dispute | |||||||
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 United Kingdom Jersey |
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2 Patrol boats[1] |
2 Patrol boats[2]
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The 2021 Jersey dispute is an ongoing dispute involving United Kingdom, Jersey and France about the Government of Jersey's licencing of French fishing boats to fish in its territorial waters. On 5 May 2021, United Kingdom sent two patrol boats to Jersey in response to threats from French fishermen to blockade Jersey's main harbour and French threats to cut off Jersey's electricity. On 6 May, France retaliated by sending two patrol boats of its own to Jersey.[3]
Background
Jersey is a Crown dependency. Although the island was never part of the UK nor EU, its relationship with regard to fishing was governed as part of the EU fishing frameworks.
From 2004 until 31 December 2020, Jersey and France shared responsibility for the management of fishing in the area between three and twelve miles off Jersey’s coast under terms agreed in the Bay of Granville Agreement, which France and the UK had signed in 2000.[4]
After the UK left the EU in 2020, the Bay of Granville Agreement no longer had effect and Jersey's fishing relationship with France changed to be governed by the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
Jersey took control of all fishing boats in its waters through a licensing process, however EU boats with a history of fishing in Jersey waters will be granted a permit. Similarly, Jersey boats that have traditionally fished in French waters will be given a permit to continue by the French authorities.[5] An amnesty period was introduced, allowing French boats over 12 m long to continue to fish until the end of April.[6] The change means that Jersey will control fishing activities for EU boats in Jersey waters which is of concern especially to French fishermen.[7] Jersey boats registered with NEAFC can land crustaceans and fin fish they have caught at the ports of Carteret or Granville, as these species are exempt from the EU sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) requirements for an Export Health Certificate, however specific French permission is required before each landing. Scallops, clams and whelks cannot be landed into the EU without a health certificate.[8]
Jersey fishermen blocked the island's harbour on 10 March 2021 to draw attention to difficulties in landing their catch in Granville since Brexit.[9]
Dispute
The new permit system was fully introduced at the end of the amnesty period on 30 April 2021, and the Government of Jersey issued 41 permits, with a further 14 pending.[6] Some licences came with conditions including:
- how many days a boat may fish in Jersey waters
- what species `they may target
- what fishing gear can be used, and how dredging can be done[10]
- temporary exclusion from areas where sea bream nest[10]
The French government claim that these conditions had not been discussed previously and therefore had no effect.[10]
In protest at the system, a number of Norman and Breton fishermen met in Granville, with some intent on blockading the port of St Helier on 6 May. This arose out of a misunderstanding of the new process. French fishermen understood they needed to produce evidence of ten days of fishing to receive a permit for the whole year, while in fact they needed to produce a minimum of ten days of evidence, plus evidence for the most number of days per year they had fished in the island's waters in the past three years.[11]
The French government complained at how the system had been implemented, calling the new rules "completely unacceptable" as they dictate where ships can and cannot go. On 5 May, the Maritime Minister Annick Girardin said France was "ready to use... retaliatory measures" including cutting off the island's access to the French power grid, from which comes 95% of the island's electricity.[12] The Normandy region and the Manche department closed their combined offices in Jersey, which were set up in 1995, to protest their lack of understanding and discontent.[13]
In the evening of the 5 May, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said "any blockade would be completely unjustified" and announced that the Royal Navy would send two patrol vessels to montior the waters around Jersey as a precautionary measure. He also held meetings with John Le Fondré, the Chief Minister of Jersey and Ian Gorst, the island's Minister of External Affairs, telling them of the need for a "de-escalation in tensions".[14]
On 6 May, HMS Severn began patrolling the waters around Jersey.[15] In response France sent two of its own patrol boats, Athos and Themis, shortly after 13:30 BST.[2] Following the deployment of French patrol boats a member of the Jersey Militia reenactment group was seen firing on the French boats with a musket from Elizabeth Castle.[16]
Jersey officials will meet the French fishermen aboard Jersey's fisheries protection vessel in St Helier Harbour, respecting COVID-19 social distancing rules.[17] The protest ended later that afternoon. Ian Gorst said the talks were positive, however a spokesman for Normandy fishermen said the talks put them "deeper into deadlock", and warned that retaliatory measures would be taken if this did not get resolved. Boris Johnson said the Royal Navy vessels would remain in place.[18]
Reactions
European Union: Commission spokesperson Vivian Loonela said UK was breaking the Brexit trade deal.[19]
Further reading
- "Government works to resolve misunderstanding on fishing licences". Government of Jersey. 4 May 2021.
- "Minister meets EU Fisheries Commissioner as first licences are issued". Government of Jersey. 30 April 2021.
See also
References
- ^ Bowden, George; Harrison, Emma (6 May 2021). "UK Royal Navy ships patrolling Jersey amid fishing row with France". BBC News. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
- ^ a b Sullivan, Rory; Sharman, Jon (6 May 2021). "Jersey fishing row – live: France sends Athos and Themis boats as Boris Johnson says naval ships to remain". Independent. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
- ^ Lough, Richard; Macaskill, Andrew (6 May 2021). "UK sends two navy boats to Jersey after France threatens blockade". Reuters. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
- ^ Potigny, Fiona. "European Commission 'says Jersey fishing permits broke Brexit deal'". Bailiwick Express. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
- ^ "Jersey fishermen 'not celebrating' Brexit deal". BBC. 29 December 2020.
- ^ a b "First Jersey fishing licences issued to French boats". BBC News. 2021-05-01. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
- ^ "Brexit : les pêcheurs français empêchés d'accéder aux eaux de Jersey". leparisien.fr. January 15, 2021.
- ^ "Direct landing of fish to the EU from 1 January 2021". Government of Jersey. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
- ^ "'Desperate' Jersey fishermen blocked harbour in protest". BBC News. 2021-03-10. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
- ^ a b c "What is behind the dispute over fishing rights around Jersey?". the Guardian. 2021-05-06. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
- ^ Taylor, Ed. "French threaten to blockade Island as fishing row erupts". Jersey Evening Post. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
- ^ "France threatens to cut power to Jersey amid fishing row". BBC News. 2021-05-04. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
- ^ "Pêche. La Normandie et la Manche ferment leurs bureaux à Jersey". Ouest-France (in French). 3 May 2021.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "UK sends Royal Navy to patrol Jersey port amid fishing row". BBC News. 2021-05-05. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
- ^ "UK sends Royal Navy to patrol Jersey amid fishing row with France". May 6, 2021 – via BBC News.
- ^ "French fishermen blockade Jersey's main harbour". ITV. 6 May 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
- ^ "Government of Jersey representatives due to meet with French fishing leaders". Government of Jersey. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
- ^ "French fishermen leave Jersey after post-Brexit rights protest". BBC News. 2021-05-06. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
- ^ Woodcock, Andrew (6 May 2021). "Jersey fishing row: European Commission says UK is breaking the Brexit trade deal". Independent. Retrieved 6 May 2021.