More talks with EU this week as 58 French boats apply to fish locally

Monday 08 November 2021

Guernsey has received 58 applications for licences from French fishermen who wish to fish in local waters once Brexit transitional arrangements end early in 2022.

More applications could be received before licences are issued at the start of December and come into force at the start of February.

"It is correct that 58 licence applications have been received," said Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq, External Relations Lead for the Policy & Resources Committee, following a statement on the issue made to the House of Commons by Victoria Prentis, the UK's Minister of States for Farming, Fisheries and Food. 

The current transitional arrangements allow nearly three times as many French vessels - 167 in total - to work in local waters.  

"The numbers of vessels included in the interim authorisation regime was based on a general list of vessels provided by French officials at the end of 2020," said Deputy Le Tocq.

"It is quite possible that a few more [licence applications] will be submitted, but it is a matter for French fishing vessels to consider applying, if they have the evidence of fishing activity in the relevant waters for the track record period that the TCA [UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement] requires."

Meanwhile, Guernsey continues to be involved in discussions aimed at avoiding any escalation in a row over French vessels' long-term access to local waters which recently caused a French Minister to threaten the Channel Islands' supply of electricity from France.

"Like the UK and Jersey, Guernsey officials have held discussions with European Commission officials. It is not possible to comment in detail as further talks will take place [this] week, in line with the roadmap we set out in September,  but so far the discussions have been positive and constructive," said Deputy Le Tocq.