It follows the nullification of the Granville Bay Treaty, which previously set out shared fishing rights in the Island’s seas but ended after the UK and European Union reached a Brexit deal.
Under the old agreement, French and Jersey boats were able to obtain a licence to fish in each other’s waters by applying to their respective local authorities. However, as a result of the new rules, only Jersey can issue licences.
Pascal Lecler, chairman of the Ille-et-Vilaine Fisheries Committee in Brittany, claimed that despite lodging an application for the permits over a week ago, the majority of the fishermen in the area have not received anything.
‘About 40 of the 66 boats under the control of the fishing committee of Ille-et-Vilaine used to go fishing in Jersey waters. Since 1 January they have a formal ban on entering them,’ he said.
‘We were first told that it would take three days. Then five. Then on Monday the [French] Department of Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture told me that there was a new 48-hour waiting time. We do not understand why this is the case since we have already provided them with a list of the vessels which need a licence.’
He added: ‘If the permits do not arrive quickly, I fear that some will lose patience.’
Under the new rules, the government says it will issue licences to EU vessels which can demonstrate a proven history of fishing within Jersey’s seas.
Environment Minister John Young said that permits had already been given to a number of French boats. However, he added that he was still waiting for a list of other eligible vessels from the French authorities.
‘We are supposed to be provided with a list of eligible EU vessels so we can deal with the licensing. That has not happened,’ he said.
‘But nonetheless, we have not stood on that formality – we have issued the licences to the boats that we know about and provided a list of those vessels to the French and said, “Please, if there are other vessels that qualify to access our waters then give us that information”. We are still waiting for that.’
Deputy Young added that he was keen to work with French authorities to rectify any issues.
