Fishing regime is extended to June

The news comes less than a month after fishermen blockaded St Helier Harbour due to disagreements with Jersey’s new finishing policy.

Guernsey’s interim fishing authorisation allows for certain French vessels to fish in Bailiwick waters following the UK’s exit from the EU.

This extension allows for the remaining licensing issues to be resolved before the final TCA fishing licenses can be issued to qualifying French vessels.

Policy & Resources committee lead for external relations Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq said the move would give certainty for French fishing vessels while the final remaining technical issues were being resolved.

‘This will ensure that we will be able to approach the licensing process with clarity and transparency, in the spirit of the TCA to support our wider engagement with our closest neighbours,’ he said.

‘We continue to have a constructive relationship with the neighbouring authorities in Normandy and La Manche, and are in regular dialogue as we finalise and move towards the implementation of the TCA licensing regime. I look forward to discussing arrangements for our mutual benefit, including to reopen access to Dielette for Bailiwick fishermen once the TCA licensing regime is in place.’

Guernsey Fishermen’s Association vice-president Dougal Lane said the association had good meetings with the local authorities, and believed things were moving in the right direction.

Currently local fishermen can land fish at Cherbourg, but they have been warned tensions mean they cannot go to Carteret. Mr Lane said that was unfortunate, as Carteret would be the easiest port for them to land fish at during the current spring tides, but they were working around it.

He was keen to see access reopened at Dielette.

‘It is by far the handiest port for us, with access at any size of tide.’

The latest interim authorisation is the third extension of the regime this year.

As part of continued dialogue with the authorities in Normandy and La Manche, Deputy Le Tocq and Economic Development president Deputy Neil Inder met with La Manche departmental council president Marc Lefevre and Normandy regional council president Herve Morin to update them on the current interim arrangements and the approach to future licensing policy.

Deputy Inder said it was important to maintain a stable and predictable economic relationship for the fishing industry in and around the Bailiwick.

Mr Lefevre and Mr Morin said they appreciated the spirit of openness and transparency that marks the discussions.

‘This is likely to maintain a calm atmosphere between our professionals and our institutions,’ they said in a statement.