Jersey’s environment minister Deputy John Young was asked about fisheries and Brexit during a Jersey States’ Assembly video scrutiny hearing earlier this week. He noted there was a huge amount of uncertainty, but that there were three possible scenarios.
One was a UK-EU deal that included fishing matters and Jersey agreed to be part of that. Another was that there was no agreement – or for Jersey as a result. The third position was that there was a UK-EU deal but one that didn’t work for the island.
The outcome, of which fishing will be a key part, would be subject to a States of Jersey decision, he said.
‘I think what is for Jersey absolutely vital is that we have the ability to ensure the sustainable management of our marine resources, and that that means that Jersey ministers alone must be the ultimate decision-maker on the management of those waters. And that is something that we as one of the three Crown Dependencies are looking for.’
Meanwhile, a UK minister has described as ‘very positive’ a video call with leaders of Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man about their inclusion in the UK’s free trade agreement agenda.
To the backdrop of intensifying UK-EU Brexit trade talks, UK trade policy minister Greg Hands spoke to Guernsey’s most senior politician Deputy Peter Ferbrache along with Jersey’s external relations minister Ian Gorst and the Isle of Man’s chief minister Howard Quayle.
In a post on Twitter, he said: ‘Very positive call with Leaders of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man on their inclusion in the UK’s FTA agenda. The Crown Dependencies are vital members of the British family, and we will work with them to maximise trade opportunities in current & future FTAs.’
