THE European Parliament has backed measures – including potential port closures and import bans for British boats – to safeguard the rights of its fishermen to use Jersey and Guernsey’s waters.
Last week, MEPs voted by 619 votes to 12 in favour of a motion urging the UK to ‘refrain from controversial actions’ in relation to issuing post-Brexit fishing licences, while indicating support for ‘extreme measures’ should their vessels not gain sufficient rights to use the waters of the Crown Dependencies.
The development is the latest in a long-running dispute over fishing rights, which led to a blockade of St Helier Harbour by French boats 13 months ago in protest against a new regime, under which Jersey gained sole authority to issue licences to use its territorial waters.
Jersey has since issued more than 130 licences to foreign boats, while the UK and EU have engaged in their own negotiations over access to British waters.
A European Parliament statement on the vote says: ‘MEPs are concerned about the UK’s unilateral and protectionist measures, which limit fishing licences for EU vessels in the Crown Dependencies [Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man].
‘MEPs want the [European] Commission to consider all options to ensure that the rights of EU vessels are respected, including limiting the UK’s access to EU ports or restricting the import of fisheries products.
‘The EU-UK relationship must be anchored in a spirit of good faith and neighbourliness that would lead to stable and predictable conditions for fishers now and after the transition period ending in June 2026.’
It adds that the parliament ‘deplores’ the introduction of restrictions on EU vessels in British waters.
‘The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement has now been in place for a year, and MEPs have witnessed some obstacles to its implementation and emerging issues in the fisheries field.
‘They deplore the fact that the TCA gradually reduces the share of the European fleet’s fishing opportunities in UK waters by 25% over a five-and-a-half-year period,’ the statement continued.
European parliament rapporteur Manuel Pizarro added that the parliament called on the UK to ‘abstain from protectionist measures’ and ‘guarantee stable and predictable conditions for fishers’.
‘Fisheries relations should be based upon good governance of the oceans and good neighbourly relations,’ he said.
‘Nonetheless, we encourage the commission to consider all options to guarantee EU fishers’ rights, including limiting UK vessels’ access to EU ports or fisheries products.
‘These may be seen as extreme measures, but they should nevertheless be considered because they could be a necessary tool to protect our fishers.’
EU fishing commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius appeared supportive of the line taken by the European Parliament during an interview with the Financial Times over the weekend.
He said: ‘The commission fully intends to continue building a successful and constructive relationship with the UK. We managed to achieve most of the licences that have been requested. We have to understand France and especially those regions who, basically from their shores, can see Jersey and Guernsey. They always had a relationship with them. They used to fish in each other’s waters and really live well with each other and then Brexit really reshuffled this relationship.
‘When it comes to the Commission side, we will always support our fishermen and will always stand behind them.’
The European Commission is the executive branch of the EU, responsible for implementing its decisions.
The Government of Jersey and the Jersey Fishermen’s Association were both contacted for comment.
