INTRODUCING more fishing restrictions in Jersey’s territorial waters on top of those being proposed by ministers risks putting the Island back in a “very difficult situation” with French fishermen, the External Relations Minister has warned.
Deputy Ian Gorst spoke ahead of debate over Environment Minister Steve Luce’s proposed Marine Spatial Plan, intended to enhance protections for the Island’s marine environment, which began yesterday afternoon.
This included discussions around two amendments put forward by the Environment, Housing, and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel, which has accused Deputy Luce of not going far enough to stay in line with international obligations.
The first calls on the minister to reinstate several Marine Protected Areas that were originally proposed by former Environment Minister Jonathan Renouf in the first iteration of the plans.
The second amendment calls for a “robust” monitoring framework to be established to ensure the Marine Spatial Plan is implemented effectively and transparently by current and future governments.
Concerns over the Marine Spatial Plan were among the issues raised by Jersey and French fishermen at a protest at the Minquiers last Thursday.
Providing an update on discussions with the European Commission, France and the UK in respect of the fishing industry, Deputy Gorst said: “We understand the frustrations within the fishing community and remain in close contact with our French, UK and European colleagues on these matters.
“Recently, key stakeholders – including fishers from Normandy, Brittany and Jersey as well as UK and EU officials – met at a regional forum in Jersey on 2 October. This is a demonstration of our continued, constructive dialogue under post-Brexit arrangements and of course we fully support the opening of a border inspection post in Granville, which would greatly enhance trade between both Jersey and Normandy.”
He noted that the Marine Spatial Plan had been the subject of “a number of conversations” with senior French officials, adding: “We remind ourselves that the French gave strong representations into the consultation about the Marine Spatial Plan.
“It is very clear to me that we must balance the interests of marine conservation with having a viable fishing fleet.”
He stressed that the Assembly must make decisions “very carefully” to ensure the Island can “actually have a fishing industry into the future”.
“It is clear to me sir, that if we accept the amendments today, well meaning as they will be, we will be back in a very, very difficult situation with our relationships with – not only our local fishing fleet – but also the Norman and Breton fishing fleet and with our political contacts in Brussels as well.”
He warned that “moving beyond what the [Environment] Minister has already presented” would cause “real difficulty”.
