Two UK Royal Navy ships have been sent by Number 10 to “monitor the situation” in Jersey following protests over Post Brexit fishing rights. The naval vessels are now patrolling waters to watch over 60 French and Jersey Boats.
French ships currently sit at St Helier port, each draped with banners saying ‘En Colere’ which means we are angry. The rights of the French fishermen are allegedly being limited by the new system which came into action last week.
French boat operators have to show fishing history in the area to fish in British waters. These new EU restrictions were added without notice, and rules imposed render them ‘null and void’. Jersey holds sole power to grant permits, and they have issued 41 to French Vessels with the right tracking technology. The French Government says that the approved ships came with additional demands that had not been discussed with anyone.
The boats, HMS Tamar and HMS Severn, have the ability to board other boats and conduct spot checks.
The situation is escalating, with French Maritime Minister Annick Girdardin threatening to cut electricity to Jersey “if they have to”. Jersey relies on France for 95% of the electricity, fed through three underwater cables. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has pledged his support for Jersey, stating any blockade will be “completely unjustified”.
Why the UK Royal Navy is in France and Jersey?
HMS Tamar and HMS Severn are both based in Portsmouth. They are 90.5m (almost 300 foot) long and have two large guns on board. Both require 45 sailors and 50 royal marines to man them.
This extreme measure is an attempt to de-escalate the situation following threats from both Jersey and France. In addition to the threat to cut off Jersey’s electricity, French officials are also threatening to stop any product from Jersey entering the country.
The UK Government are accused of using red tape to purposefully limit the capacity in which french boats can fish, something which the deny. They state that Jersey alone controls its waters.
The new rules threaten to prevent fisherman from reaching their quotas. Bertrand Sorre, a French Assembly Member, explains a fisherman who fishes 40 days a year on average can only fish for 11 under the new rules.
George Eustice, Environment Secretary, has allegedly tried to set up multiple meetings in the last 48 hours. However, representatives of France have refused to attend. Ian Gorst said the Frenches reaction had been ‘disappointing’ and ‘disproportionate’.
Conscious of how events in Northern Ireland escalated Post Brexit, the UK Government are eager to resolve this before it gets any worse. France feels like the UK have changed the terms of the Brexit deal since the new licensing rules came into power on 30th April 2020.
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