That was despite the Island’s government announcing late on Monday that three Norman harbours – previously closed to Jersey producers in response to the ongoing fishing row – had reopened after it was agreed that new licence restrictions would not be imposed on French vessels until 1 July.
Meanwhile, a company which transports building supplies between Granville and the Island said it was warned that, although it would be welcomed by port authorities in France, angry fishermen would stop it from returning to Jersey.
The latest developments come days after almost 70 French vessels travelled to Jersey and blockaded the Harbour, with crews claiming that ‘unexpected’ conditions had been placed on some mariners’ post-Brexit fishing licences.
Nathalie Porritt, director of Aqua-Mar, which normally exports over ten tonnes of shellfish caught by local fishermen to Europe each week, said yesterday: ‘We were due to export this morning on the Normandy Trader to St Malo with oysters, mussels and shellfish combined. Chris Le Masurier [of Jersey Oyster Co] and I spent hours doing our homework the night before to make sure we got the necessary authorisations and spoke to the fishermen [in St Malo] to see if everything was all right. Then, at about 4pm yesterday, we got an email from the [Jersey] fisheries department to say that it might not be a good idea and not to export.
‘I now wish I had done it as, when Chris arrived in St Malo this morning, there was no one on the quay. We had all the necessary authorisations so I should have gone ahead with it. I feel really let down by government. I also received an email saying that there was going to be a financial package in place but I do not want them to be working on a financial package – I want them to work on allowing us to export.’
Miss Porritt added that, in an attempt to reach France, she was now bringing one of her trucks to Jersey via the UK in the hope that she would be able to land in a different French port such as Caen or Cherbourg.
She called on the government to be firmer with its Norman and Breton counterparts so that goods could pass through the French ports without being impeded.
‘The government has dealt their card – the extension – and there are French boats out there in our waters catching shellfish and landing it in Europe but our fishermen are tied up in port. I know there is one fisherman who is going to try and land in Carteret tomorrow but I do not think he is going to be welcomed there,’ she said.
‘If the government had said “the Normandy Trader is coming into St Malo with shellfish and if there are any issues then permits will be taken back” then it would have been sorted overnight. We need to stop being pushovers.’
Pete Crafter, skipper of the Thora, began loading up his non-fish freight vessel yesterday after learning that Granville had reopened. But, after checking with people working at the French port, he decided it would be unwise to depart.
‘It has gone completely wrong. The port is officially open and I have spoken to the dockers who are happy to handle our boat and can legally unload us but they have said the fishermen are unhappy and will block us in,’ he said.
‘I also spoke to the port agent and he gave me the exact same response. Because the port is tidal, they only have to block me in for a couple of hours and then I will be stuck there.’
He added: ‘St Malo is not financially viable for us and there is no port infrastructure – cranes, forklifts – in Carteret. We have got some really big plant on board at the moment and we had to pay a premium rate to use the harbour crane as ours is too small. I am now going to have to pay them to take it off again and put it back on when we eventually go to France so it is really starting to cost a lot.
‘We have got one job going between Guernsey and Herm later this week but after that we are not going to be earning.’
Mr Crafter added that no one from the government had contacted him and he urged officials to get in touch.
Speaking in the States yesterday, St Brelade Constable Mike Jackson told External Relations Minister Ian Gorst that the Normandy Trader had landed oysters in St Malo but had been unable to carry lobster and crab for ‘security reasons’.
In response, Senator Gorst said: ‘That is my understanding as well, even though yesterday [Normandy’s] official no-landing notice was removed, and we are grateful to those who interceded on our behalf in that regard.
‘As we have been doing for the past four months, we will continue to pick those issues up, speak directly with Affaires Maritimes’ teams and the Harbour authority to try to alleviate those ongoing concerns. Because last week’s crisis has shown that access to waters and access to markets are intrinsically linked in the minds of our colleagues in France, as they are for our fishers as well.’
Meanwhile, Environment Minister John Young, who has delegated many of his responsibilities during the crisis to his French-speaking Assistant Minister Deputy Gregory Guida, spoke during yesterday’s States sitting to update Members.
During his statement, he confirmed that already-licensed French vessels would be given until 1 July to submit their historic fishing activity data so that they could obtain the correct licence.
And speaking in the French National Assembly yesterday, Annick Girardin, the Minister of the Sea who previously threatened to cut off Jersey’s power, said: ‘Jersey has just suggested that we postpone these restrictions until the end of July so we can resume discussions. In the coming hours, I will respond in writing. France will respond in writing,’ she said.
The government press office was contacted for comment but had not responded at the time of publication.
