Fishing future under threat as hope starts to sink

Tuesday 08 December 2020

The UK has been accused of hypocrisy for contemplating forcing new fishing laws upon us, as the Head of Guernsey Fisherman's Association proposed a "more sensible" solution to the negotiating deadlock.

The UK remains locked in discussions with senior EU officials as the end of the Brexit transition period draws ever closer.

A fishing agreement remains one of the key sticking points, with the UK committed to a new arrangement that allows it to become an independent coastal state at the soonest possible opportunity.

Meanwhile, the EU is fighting for continued access to British waters and some key figures within the UK's Government - including senior politicians at DEFRA - appear open to deploying a Permissive Extent Clause that would enable the UK to impose a new deal upon us as a "last resort" without our consent. That could result in a trade-off on the Channel Islands' territorial waters in order to appease European demands. 

It is a possibility that threatens to endanger our long-standing constitutional relationship with the UK - and Barry Paint says it would significantly endanger Guernsey fishermen. 

"Our fishing industry is definitely under threat, we don’t know until 31 December what is going to happen," he lamented. 

The former harbour pilot views it as an entirely avoidable situation with a common-sense solution.

"The sensible thing for the UK to do is to not cancel it on 31 December. There are hundreds of French and Dutch boats that fish in English waters and what they could is carry on [with the status quo] for 10 years so that everyone knows where they stand. Leave things as they are and then arbitrate it afterwards."

Pictured: Fishing represents just a fraction of the UK's economy, however it is a highly-emotive issue that took centre-stage during the 'Leave' campaign. 

Instead, the UK appears deadset on bringing its own fishing ambitions to fruition in the next few months - and could be willing to sacrifice the Channel Islands' autonomy in the process. 

"They are doing to us what they don’t what Europe to do to them," said Mr Paint.

The consequences could be just as severe if no deal is reached and Guernsey fishermen are unable to land their catch in France. That would most likely lead to tariffs if fishermen wanted to sell their produce on the continent.

"If that happens, we will have lost our main market for wetfish," warned Mr Paint. 

"We only have 63,000 people and not all of them eat fish." 

"The French merchants want our fish because it is good quality and it is fresh, whereas the French boats come back having been out for a week at a time."

The UK's talks with the EU over fishing, trade, and other unsettled business are expected to continue today.