Still No Solution Following Fishing Talks

Thursday, 18 March 2021 08:59

A meeting between Ministers and fishermen over an ongoing dispute has failed to find a solution.

Politicians have met members of the fishing industry's week to discuss the difficulties it is facing post-Brexit.

The fleet held a protest last week to try to push the government to stop French boats from catching scallops and whelks in island waters because out fishermen are being prevented from landing their catches in France.

Jersey is now a third country to the EU and our waters have been reclassified, meaning those species would have to be purified and inspected before they can be supplied into the continent.

Ministers responded, calling for 'calm voices and a reasoned approach' and for hostility to be kept to a minimum.

They said that they were exploring 'all options' for a fair system for exports to the EU and were pushing for a Border Inspection Post at Granville to facilitate landings there.

They also promised a 'package of support for those fishermen affected'.

A meeting took place this week, chaired by the Environment Minister Deputy John Young and attended by Assistant Minister Deputy Gregory Guida, External Relation Minister Senator Ian Gorst, the Chair of the Environment Scrutiny Panel Constable Mike Jackson; Grouville Deputy Carolyn Labey, and St Martin Deputy Steve Luce.

The government says it was open to all members of the local fishing and aquaculture industries.

It was agreed that more clarity was needed on the French rules for landing Jersey catches and that talks should continue on the exact nature of support needed to help the industry.

Another meeting is due to take place before Easter.

The government says that, in the meantime, its officials from Marine Resources, Local Economy and External Relations, will keep liaising with the industry and the French authorities and provide support with paperwork and water classification issues so that ' where Jersey vessels meet new landing requirements, their catches are accepted into French ports.'