The ongoing debate between the UK and the French government regarding fishing rights in Jersey’s waters has continued into a second week as tensions escalate.
Back at the start of 2021, a trade deal came into force that now requires EU fishing vessels to be in possession of a licence to fish in UK waters. Likewise, fishing boats from the UK now need a similar licence to fish in EU waters.
The aim of the trade deal was to return a larger share of the fishing rights in UK waters back to British fishermen. This phased transition aims to gradually shift towards giving the UK the right to completely exclude EU fishing boats from their waters by 2026.
Boats that are able to prove they have previously worked in a particular area between 01 February 2017 and 31 January 2020 were promised that they would be granted a licence to continue working in the same region, at least for the near future.
Debates have arisen as the UK National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations (NFFO) have stated they are having trouble identifying legitimate vessels that may be struggling to produce the necessary evidence.
Tensions have risen recently as over the last month, the UK has denied licences to a large number of French boats. Mounting confusion over the situation is ongoing as a British scallop trawler was also seized by French officials in the port of Le Havre recently under suspicion of being in breach of the new regulations.
The French government has met the limited number of licences with threats that they will limit access to French ports and impose increased security on British fishing boats if the situation does not improve. They have even gone so far as to suggest they may cut the electricity supply to Jersey.
UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has stated that if diplomacy continues to fail, the only remaining option will be to take legal action, claiming that France was moving towards a breach of international law.
Ongoing “constructive talks” continue between both parties, and both hope to reach an amicable solution over the coming weeks.