Permits see French lift blockade on fishermen
FRENCH fisherman have lifted a blockade preventing local vessels from landing their catch.
It follows the start of the permit regime to give French vessels access to Bailiwick waters during 2020.
The blockade was triggered the day after Brexit as the States worked frantically to meet French demands for a regime that complied with EU law after previous arrangements fell away or were re-interpreted.
‘There was little time to respond to this very last-minute request from the French Government to deliver a SMEFF (Sustainable Management of External Fishing Fleets) authorisation regime, but we delivered on the political commitments we made to assist the French in resolving this problem,’ said Policy & Resources president Deputy Gavin St Pier.
‘I am pleased that it has been confirmed that the unofficial threats to Bailiwick vessels have been removed. However, such threats of action by some French vessels must be condemned when we had already committed to delivering the authorisation regime.
‘Any such action would be counterproductive for everyone, not least because it would force our own fishermen to find other markets. Our ability to respond fast and deliver a solution that protects our interests is evidence of our preparedness for Brexit, and the forthcoming negotiations.’
In the months before Brexit, Guernsey took control of its territorial waters out to 12 miles.
The situation with the French was reported around the world as Britain’s first post-Brexit punch-up.
Fishing rights will be a key negotiating issue during the transition period.
The local authorisation regime is only temporary.
Pollack fisherman Dougal Lane said he was upset when he heard the news originally as he sells fish directly to France.
‘Thankfully I have not been directly affected just yet because my season hasn’t started, but hopefully the temporary permit regime for 2020 should solve the issue.’
He suspected this fall-out was part of a larger, underlying issue but that it had been handled very well by Policy & Resources.
‘I’ve been doing this job for over 40 years and have been in lots of conversations with the French. Hopefully, this will open the door to more conversations about territories, static fishing and trawling in deeper waters.’
Paul Falla was also impressed with how Guernsey handled the situation.
He said: ‘I’ve not been affected yet because for the last six months I’ve been landing in Jersey because the prices are much better – there’s no point going all the way to France.
‘However, hopefully the permits will now allow everybody to land back in France.’
Pierro Le Cheminant, who runs a 14m-long trawler and lands his catches at French ports, said he was glad the situation was back to normal.
