FRENCH and Jersey fishermen met in St Helier to share their concerns about a plan to create no-fishing zones in the Island’s waters – and make a call for next year’s implementation date to be put back until 2030.
Four fishers, two from Normandy and two from Brittany, met local counterparts – something that would have been unlikely in the years following Brexit, when Jersey first issued licences to control fishing activity in its waters.
But both sides now fear a move from Jersey’s government – to introduce a ‘Marine Spatial Plan’ next year that includes protected areas – will threaten their livelihoods.
Speaking at the St Helier Yacht Club, where the two sides met on Friday, Jersey Fishermen’s Association co-chair Steve Viney said: “As fishermen, we recognise the need to have protected areas but we should have been more involved, and listened to, from the start of the process rather than added to at the end.
“We could have brought a lot of knowledge to the table.”
He added: “Although the Marine Spatial Plan looks good on paper, the protected areas will force fishermen to fish in less profitable areas, which will mean an increased effort, which in turn will increase the environmental impact.
“This could have been done in a way that made everyone happy.
“Also, the new regime is a very long-winded process involving Whitehall and Brussels, which stops any spontaneity. We are now at the mercy of bureaucracy, and we are watched very carefully by DEFRA and the EU.
“This is an issue concerning Brittany, Normandy and Jersey, and it was far better when we were able to resolve issues among ourselves.
“We would like to see the implementation of the Marine Spatial Plan pushed back to 2030 – which was the original date before it was rushed forward by the previous Environment Minister.
Granville fisher Eric Leguelinel was part of the French delegation. He said: “From 1992, I was a part of a committee which, under the old Bay of Granville treaty, allowed us to solve all our problems together. But this was destroyed by Brexit, and we lost our dialogue with Jersey fishermen.
“But after a while, we realised that we still had the same problems, and we needed to rebuild a common future to find answers to them.”
He continued: “Jersey’s Marine Spatial Plan is a big issue. It might not affect a big number of boats but, for us, every boat is important. Every time a fishing boat disappears, the community is weaker.”
Francis Binney, the government’s Head of Marine Resources, attended a lunch with the fishermen following their meeting.
He said: “Jersey and French fishermen have fished alongside each other for generations but over the last few years there hasn’t been a lot of communication.
“It is important for them to get them together to talk about their shared challenges and opportunities – issues like cohabitation, who’s using what gear when, spatial squeeze, where there is competition for fishing grounds versus other uses like wind farms, cables, conservation areas, and the need for a combined approach to make a stronger economy for both the French and the Jersey fishermen.
“Their concern about where they can and cannot fish is a completely valid viewpoint. The fishermen have been part of the Marine Spatial Plan development process, but they are not entirely happy with some of its outcomes.”
He continued: “Lots of other people feel that there are good points and bad points in the Marine Spatial Plan and we’re doing our best to balance that and find a middle ground that works for most people.
“But there’s a challenge for fishermen in that some of the grounds that they used to be able to use are becoming less available to them because they contain species and habitats that have a high conservation value and need protecting under international obligations.
“We have provided a 13-month run in towards when we’re going to close certain areas, so that there’s time for conversation, so that fishermen can get together, talk, share their viewpoints, and come together to represent their viewpoints to the French and Jersey governments and to try and ensure that they are making their voices heard.
“It isn’t a done deal necessarily, but the plan is set out and went through the States Assembly. So, it’s pretty much there, but the Minister has the ability to listen and to help fishermen adapt and give them time for that adaptation as well.”
