Fishermen eager not to be caught in French row
LOCAL fishermen are hopeful that Guernsey will not get caught in the crossfire of the post-Brexit fishing row between Jersey and France.
Jersey is about a month ahead of Guernsey with its new fishing licensing regime, so the Guernsey Fishermen’s Association is watching the dispute with interest to see if lessons can be learned.
President Barry Paint said that Guernsey had taken an entirely different approach to Jersey, and as a result had a better relationship with the French.
But he added that local fishermen could do without the worry. Last night French boats were preparing to sail to Jersey to blockade St Helier harbour in protest at the way the island’s licensing approach is being handled.
‘We don’t know what the French are going to do,’ Mr Paint said.
‘I know Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq is negotiating very strongly on our behalf, he’s never going to satisfy everybody, but we need to continue to be able to land fish in France, and anything small could provoke that, so I’ve got to keep my head down a bit. But we’re in completely different circumstances to Jersey.’
Under Guernsey’s proposed post-Brexit fishing regime, French vessels will be allowed to fish in the six-to-12 nautical mile zone, but they will have to be on a list of names, and adhere to sustainability regulations.
The current interim regime had created better understanding and allowed the French fleet to adjust, said Deputy Le Tocq.
‘We have extended our interim regime. Jersey has gone straight into their regime and I think the shock of that has not helped the situation, whereas we’ve said we’ll continue to roll over the interim regime until we can come to a place where we can apply it for all applicants.
‘I’ve been in touch informally this week and there was a clear distinction between the Guernsey regime and the current situation in Jersey, so that gives me some relief.’
Mr Paint said that the Guernsey fishing fleet was occasionally experiencing some difficulties landing fish in France. ‘But I’ve heard of no significant problems other than the bureaucracy of it all.
‘The smaller boats can’t land in Dielette anymore because it’s not a Customs port, and as far as I’m aware some of the smaller boats have been going to Cherbourg, but there are big weather problems for the smaller boats to go there, and I’m sure the French are aware of that.’
