Earlier this month the House of Commons controversially passed a ‘permissive extent clause’ in its Fisheries Bill, without the consent of Jersey and Guernsey, that is designed to enable Westminster to pass laws on behalf of the islands.
Conservative MP Victoria Prentis said that the UK may try to legislate for the islands to bring them in line with ‘international obligations’ in the post-Brexit environment, but only as a ‘last resort’.
The move was vehemently opposed by External Relations Minister Ian Gorst, who in a widely viewed online video, said that the UK could not legislate for Jersey without the approval of the States Assembly.
Speculation has grown over the UK’s motives for passing the clause. The British government has taken a firm stance on fishing rights during Brexit negotiations but it is unknown exactly why they might wish to legislate for Jersey.
Now, the Normandy Regional Fisheries Committee [Comité Regional des Pêches Maritimes Normandie] have released a statement calling for clarity on the issue.
‘The London government introduced a last-minute amendment to the Fisheries Bill to introduce a permissive extent clause in respect of Crown Dependencies (Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man),’ it says.
‘Thus, the [UK] government leaves itself open to extend legislation to Crown Dependencies in order to meet their international obligations if the dependencies do not legislate to do so.
‘We question the objective pursued by the London government since the Bailiwicks have made known their opposition to the introduction of this clause since this summer.
‘Indeed, the current arrangements for access to waters for fishing in the Channel Islands are the result of the longstanding relations between the Bailiwicks and their Norman and Breton neighbours.
‘This amendment constitutes a threat to the Granville Bay Treaty at a time when the Jersey government has reaffirmed its attachment to it. On reading the British press it would appear that consultation has been reduced to a minimum.’
The Bay of Granville Treaty is an agreement between Jersey and France which allows shared access to the Island’s waters.
The Normandy association said that Islanders had been misled into believing there was excessive use of Jersey’s territorial waters by French boats.
‘In this respect, we once again refute the lies that would have the Jersey public believe that French vessels can access the waters of the island of Jersey in unlimited numbers,’ it says. ‘The Treaty of Granville Bay limits access to local vessels with a contingent. It should be noted that we are ahead of the management of most species in comparison with Jersey’s regulations.
‘We regret this on behalf of the CRPMEM of Normandy, all the more so as our relations with our neighbours are very old and proximity to France has provided services to the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey.
‘We support the willingness of the Bailiwicks of Guernsey and Jersey to maintain good neighbourly relations. We wish to continue the joint management of the waters of the Normandy-Breton Gulf independently of a potential more global agreement between London and Brussels that would not take into account local issues.
‘The CRPMEM of Normandy, in its tradition of peaceful coexistence with its neighbours, fears this escalation.’
