Post-Brexit fish permits catch a crab

The island has found its voice on the international stage, and it rightly wanted control of its fishing limits out to 12 miles. Now it is facing the first diplomatic test of the new order.

Economically speaking, the commercial fishing industry is small fry, but symbolically, culturally and, tellingly, environmentally it is hugely importantly.

The flashpoint is the need for those French boats that historically have accessed local waters from six to 12 miles to apply for a licence to do so again during the transition period.

It was triggered by the automatic ending of the London Fishing Convention which had, until Brexit day, governed this.

Guernsey fisherman trying to land their catch in Cherbourg were told on Friday that it would not be safe for them to go there.

Blockades and threats to the boats are very real.

This is for now an argument over paperwork, but it is an example of just how quickly relationships can sour and fear can spread. It is also a show of strength from the French fishing community at large that Policy & Resources should have predicted and managed proactively, rather than letting news filter out.

If this is where we get to with ostensibly maintaining the status quo with extra forms, just imagine where we could end up negotiating any new arrangements involving compromise.

We have very little insight into what the vision is for controlling fishing after the transition period, and that creates distrust which has boiled over here.

Statements from the French authorities make it look like this transitional licensing scheme was not ready, or at the very least not well understood.

Whatever the reality, it is embarrassing for Guernsey how it has been portrayed, but also for the UK as it reflects back on them ahead of talks with the European Union.

Fishing is a lever both sides will pull on as trade discussions advance – it is clear how quickly it can become a headline-grabbing flashpoint.