French Ministers and MEP’s are fuming after Jersey shut out french fishing vessels from entering its waters.
There was an agreement between Jersey and France under the Bay of Granville treaty. Since leaving the EU, that agreement has ceased to function, leaving french fishers without access to waters around Jersey.
There were temporary measures in place after the UK left on 31st December 2020, but those measures have now come to an end.
The new system being put in place leaves Jersey controlling who has access into its fish-rich waters. The french will now have to gain a license to access Jersey waters once the proposed’ a licensing scheme is set up.
French MEP’s have clubbed together to send an urgent letter to the European Commissioner for the Environment, the Ocean and Fisheries.
They sent this letter to express their concerns over the situation. The letters read: “The vagueness [from Jersey] that reigns today is not acceptable.
“With regard to the provisions of article FISH 10, paragraph 3, of the Brexit agreement, we ask you to initiate, as quickly as possible and without waiting for the vote of the European Parliament, with the government of Jersey and in connection with the French and British governments, real negotiations on the concrete implementation of the agreement.
“The centralization in Brussels of relations, which were until now managed by the national authorities, due to the agreement of the Bay of Granville, leaves the fishing professionals without an interlocutor.”
Jersey, external relations minister, hit back saying: “It has become clear that the transitional arrangements for relevant French vessels that were announced by Jersey in good faith do not satisfy the strict legal requirements of the TCA.
“This has been addressed immediately.
“Jersey will always uphold and implement its international obligations, and this includes the licensing commitments we made by agreeing to be part of the TCA.
“This is key to Jersey’s reputation and to our relationships in France.”
