Jersey has failed its fishermen, says minister
COMMERCE and Employment minister Kevin Stewart says Jersey failed its fishermen by agreeing to abide by EU fishing quotas.
As the war of words intensified yesterday over the ban on Sarnian fishermen operating in UK waters, Deputy Stewart vowed he and his board would not allow quotas to be introduced in Guernsey.
He said he was currently allowing time for the Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs to respond to his robust letter demanding the ban be lifted.
Deputy Stewart's comments came after Don Thompson, president of the Jersey Fishermen's Association, said the UK should take the opportunity to force Guernsey to offer access to better fishing rights to the Jersey fleet in Guernsey waters.
Deputy Stewart said this was simply Jersey 'stirring the pot' in the row over quotas and dismissed the suggestion.
'What their government did was agree to quotas.
'That is why they don't have a fishing industry in Jersey any more,' he said.
'Jersey's (States) let their fishermen down and I am not going to let our fishermen down.
'The Commerce and Employment board, and I as minister, are not going to budge. We cannot bring in quotas, we cannot destroy the fishing industry.'
