French action ‘should not affect local boats’

This followed a surprise announcement by France’s official government spokesman Gabriel Attal on Wednesday in which he said that fishermen could be stopped from landing their catches in the country from next week.

He also indicated that, once again, the Channel Islands’ electricity cable link with France could be under threat.

In response, Policy & Resources lead on external affairs Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq again referred to the island’s roadmap relating to the issue which the States announced in September.

This has set out a transition from the interim authorisation currently in place for French boats to a new licensing arrangement, due to come into effect on 1 February 2022.

‘The roadmap allows time for discussion, should the EU or France raise any concerns at the list of qualifying vessels or the methodology that has been applied,’ said Deputy Le Tocq.

‘In the meantime, the interim authorisation for French fishing vessels will remain in place to provide stability and certainty for the fisheries trade in the region.’

He said that there were no concerns about the roadmap’s timescales and the clarity of the process it outlined was welcomed by Normandy authorities at a summit held last month.

Guernsey Fishermen’s Association president Barry Paint said the island’s authorities had the right approach.

‘I think the authorities here are doing a very, very good job keeping our head down and this will have benefits to us in the future,’ he said.

Mr Attal made his comments at the Elysee Presidential Palace following a French Council of Ministers meeting. He said that measures to be implemented from 2 November would include ‘systematic customs and sanitary controls on products landed [in France] and the ban on unloading of seafood’.

There would also be a second series of measures ‘including energy measures relating to the supply of electricity for the Channel Islands’.

‘Our wish is quite simply that the agreement which has been concluded can be respected,’ he said.

• Jersey last month told 75 French vessels that they did not meet the criteria for a licence and they had 30 days in which to provide the necessary data, or stop fishing in local waters.