Guernsey ready to channel its French Connection in fishing stand-off

Tuesday 01 June 2021

Guernsey's External Relations Minister has offered to act as a mediator in fishing talks between Jersey and France, saying that the stand-off between two of our closest neighbours benefits nobody.

It comes after Guernsey and French authorities announced the extension of interim fishing arrangements in a joint press release.

While the heads of departments at La Manche and Normandy say there has been an "openness" and a "calm" under-current to negotiations with Guernsey, French authorities remain locked in a bitter dispute with our sister Channel Island. 

The European Commission is calling for Jersey's new system for controlling its waters after Brexit to be suspended, backing calls from French fishers who protested in St. Helier Harbour in May over fears their trade was being intentionally strangled with red tape.

As an act of “good faith” after the protests, Jersey offered the Norman and Breton fishers more time to get their paperwork in order to ensure they get the right type of licence.

But the offer has failed to smooth things over and the matter has been escalated to London and Brussels.

Pictured: The interim conditions for the 168 French boats with licenses to fish in our waters. "Demersal species" means all fish other than salmon, migratory trout, mackerel, clupeoid fishes, sand eels, Norway pout, smelts, eels, great weevers, crustaceans and molluscs.

While Jersey appears to be swimming a French current, positive relations between Guernsey and senior representatives across the channel have been very pointedly spelt out. 

“We appreciate the spirit of openness and transparency that marks our discussions," said Marc Lefèvre, President of the Departmental Council of La Manche, and Hervé Morin, President of the Regional Council of Normandy, in a joint press release.

"This is likely to maintain a calm atmosphere between our professionals and our institutions."

External Relations Lead Jonathan Le Tocq and Economic Development President Neil Inder met them last week to agree a further extension of interim fishing authorisation until the end of June, allowing for named French vessels to fish in Bailiwick waters.

On 27 December 2020, the States of Deliberation agreed to participate in the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, which will grant access based on a licensing regime and fishing activity during a track record period between 1 February 2017 and 31 January 2020. 

This was expected to be in effect by 1 April, however technical issues have held up the final agreement and Guernsey's authorities have extended the interim arrangements month-by-month ever since. 

Two headlines; one English, one French.

English: https://t.co/rUhqOHrzic

French:https://t.co/lUCheLTjWL

English claims: 'Guernsey hits out at neighbour' and @letocq expressed 'anger'

I was in the room.
English copy - fabrication
French copy - accurate

— tothevale (@tothevale) May 29, 2021

Pictured: Economic Development President Neil Inder says that French media reports of the Guernsey/Jersey/France relationship are more accurate than those printed in English tabloids last week.

“The decision to extend the interim licensing regime for a further month provides certainty for French fishing vessels while the final remaining technical issues are being resolved," said Deputy Le Tocq.

"This will ensure that we will be able to approach the licensing process with clarity and transparency, in the spirit of the TCA to support our wider engagement with our closest neighbours."

Speaking further to Express, Deputy Le Tocq acknowledged that Guernsey's negotiations with France "come from a different starting point" because of the Bay of Granville Agreement, which was signed by officials from both Jersey and France back in 2000.

"Jersey went into that agreement thinking it would be good for them but ended up feeling hard done by," he commented.

"The French fishermen were happy with it, but at least some of them were of the impression that the status quo would continue [under the TCA].

"Post-Brexit it was thought that the TCA would provide better results, however fishermen on both sides [Jersey and France] are not happy with it."

Pictured: Dielette remains a closed port to Bailiwick fishermen. Deputy Le Tocq said: "I look forward to discussing arrangements for our mutual benefit, including to reopen access to Diélette for Bailiwick fishermen once the TCA licensing regime is in place. The volition to do so is there."

While Jersey's French connections appear frayed, Deputy Le Tocq said Guernsey "continues to have a constructive relationship" with the neighbouring authorities in Normandy and La Manche and remain "in regular dialogue"to help finalise and then implement the TCA licensing regime.

"What we have done differently is the process, which was to ensure that we didn’t rush through any changes," he said. 

"We had far more regular dialogue with the French and have engaged with the French Fishing Association in Cherbourg so that the process is not all in one go. We said we would continue the existing arrangements. Jersey set a deadline and are now having to backpedal a little."

As a result, he says his counterparts in Jersey "are in a bit of a pickle" and believes Guernsey might be able to help. Deputy Le Tocq has raised his concerns about the Jersey/France stand-off with the French authorities and fears that Guernsey could end up a victim of any long and irreconcilable struggle. 

"If there is anything we can do to help, we have said ‘let us know’. We are willing to help. There might be areas where we can act as a mediator. We don't want this to continue for much longer. It doesn’t suit anyone."

Pictured: Deputy Inder is quoted in the joint press release as saying: “It is important that we maintain a stable and predictable economic relationship for the fishing industry in and around the Bailiwick. We are dependent on trade both in terms of access to waters and in terms of access to ports and EU markets. The TCA seeks to balance these interests and interrelationships to ensure peaceful use of our waters under the limited terms of access granted in the treaty and under the control of the Bailiwick."