WATCH: French boats blockade Jersey harbour under Navy's watch

Thursday 06 May 2021

Around 70 French boats arrived in Jersey waters this morning to blockade the harbour in a protest over fishing rights - under close watch by the Royal Navy. A French naval vessel is now moving towards the island as tensions continue to tighten.

The French boats were holding near Elizabeth Castle but then headed towards St. Helier’s harbour to begin a formal blockade. However, by 07:00, they had begun turning around and heading back out.

Some fishermen have been using flares, and others are carrying French flags and protest signs - one boat's reads: "Don't change anything. Let's stay friends. Jersey Government steal our historical wrights (sic)."

Video: Scenes from the French protest around 07:00.

Jersey’s Government said last night that they expected the protest to be “peaceful” and that the Royal Navy’s HMS Severn and HMS Tamar had been sent in by the UK Prime Minister as a “precautionary” measure.

Boris Johnson said last night that it was hoped this would “de-escalate” tensions, as Downing Street expressed "unwavering support" for the Channel Island. 

Both boats, which are equipped with a 20mm cannon and machine guns, arrived in Jersey’s waters early this morning.

Pictured: HMS Severn and Tamar (in light blue bottom right) keeping watch over the vessels as they headed for the harbour around 06:30.

HMS Severn is stationed near Corbiere, while HMS Tamar is South of Portelet.

HMS Severn appeared to escort the Commodore Goodwill at around 03:30 this morning along the island's west coast this, enabling its cargo to be delivered safely and ahead of schedule.

Pictured: The HMS Tamar, sporting its new camouflage paintjob, can be viewed from Jersey's coast.

Islanders are gathered at the harbours to watch the scene unfold. Police are also present, patrolling around Albert Pier and Elizabeth Harbour. 

Police Chief Robin Smith said this morning that they had "no issues or concerns."

Despite expectations that the protest will remain “peaceful”, David Sellam, Head of the joint Normandy-Brittany sea authority, was quoted as saying yesterday: “We’re ready for war. We can bring Jersey to its knees if necessary.”

He said the island appeared to have been taken over by an “extremist" fringe wishing to profit from Brexit.

The protest is an act of retaliation by the French fishermen after some were denied permits to fish in the island’s waters, while others were aggrieved by conditions they said Jersey had “unilaterally” added to the permits. These conditions included restrictions on fishing zones and the number of days they could spend at sea per year.

Pictured: A Royal Navy patrol vessel can be seen keeping watch in the distance.

France’s Maritime Minister said she was “disgusted” at the restrictions, and that hinted that France could cut off the island’s electricity supply in retaliation. 

Ministers and Jersey Electricity have since assured that Jersey will not be left in the dark if this threat comes to fruition, as it has its own generators at La Collette and Queen’s Road.

The change to a disputed fishing licence system came about because of Brexit, with the UK and Jersey becoming a ‘third country’ in the eyes of the EU. A trade deal between the two nations was signed at the end of December, which was finally ratified by the EU last Tuesday.

Previously, between 2004 and 31 December last year, the management of Jersey’s waters between three and 12 miles was shared between France and the island under the Bay of Granville Agreement, which was signed by France and the UK in 2000.

Before that, Jersey only had control out to three miles and around the Ecréhous and Minquiers reefs. The space in between was classed as “common sea” not belonging to anyone.

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