IT IS ‘imperative’ that Jersey immediately reinstates licence conditions for French boats to protect its waters from damaging fishing activity, according to the head of a marine conservation charity.
Charles Clover, of the Blue Marine Foundation, spoke after Environment Minister Jonathan Renouf approved a four-month extension for licences issued to European Union fishing vessels post-Brexit – to facilitate negotiations over how they can be used. A total of 138 licences given out to French fishers were due to expire at the end of last month, but will now be valid until 31 January 2023.
The report accompanying Deputy Renouf’s ministerial decision said the extension was needed so that outstanding negotiations – regarding the conditions attached to the licences – could be completed.
‘Under the Trade and Co-operation Agreement qualifying EU (French) vessels are issued a licence to fish by the Minister for the Environment. The current licences issued to EU vessels expire on the 30 September 2022.
‘Discussions are still ongoing between the UK and EU in respect of the “extent and nature” aspect of the licences but will not be concluded by this time,’ it stated.
External Relations Minister Philip Ozouf recently said Jersey and France needed to put the difficulties of Brexit ‘behind us’ following a trip to the country, and has previously cited the dispute over fishing licences – which last year saw a flotilla of French craft stage a protest in St Helier Harbour – as a ‘poster child’ example of the resulting tensions.
The Blue Marine Foundation made headlines earlier this year when it campaigned alongside the National Trust for Jersey for the creation of a marine park, intended to protect the Island’s waters from unsustainable fishing practices.
Mr Clover said: ‘While we welcome that negotiations around extent and nature have progressed, it is certainly frustrating to hear there is yet another delay and the impact this is having on Jersey’s ability to conserve and manage its marine resources, stated in article 493 of the TCA.’
In October, the Blue Marine Foundation stressed that two previous licence conditions, including details relating to the size of a vessel and its economic links to Jersey, should be reinstated.
The foundation said that boats over 12 metres long should require ministerial authorisation – and that all vessels of this size should cease fishing in Island waters by 31 December 2029 at the latest.
It also noted that the TCA states ‘parties shall co-operate with a view to ensuring that fishing activities… are environmentally sustainable in the long term and contribute to achieving economic and social benefits’.
Mr Clover added: ‘With negotiations still ongoing, it is imperative for Jersey to immediately reinstate the economic link and vessel size conditions in order to allow for long-term sustainable management of its marine resource and to adhere to TCA requirements.’
Deputy Ozouf said last week that he felt ‘our relations with France have steadily improved since the difficulties surrounding fisheries last year’.
He added: ‘We have moved on to the next phase of fisheries discussions – “extent and nature” – and I am hopeful that a successful conclusion to this will arise in the near future.
