What is the Jersey fishing dispute about?

Royal Navy ships are patrolling the waters around Jersey amid an ongoing row between the island and France over post-Brexit fishing rights.

HMS Severn and HMS Tamar have been deployed by the UK Government to “monitor the situation”, and Agence France-Presse reports France has despatched two patrol vessels as dozens of French fishing boats gathered near the island.

Here, the PA news agency looks at some of the key questions surrounding the dispute.

What is the row about?

It erupted after the Jersey government said French fishing boats would be required to obtain a licence to fish in the island’s waters under the terms of the UK’s post-Brexit trade deal with the EU which came into force last week.

It caused anger in French fishing communities, which complained boats which had operated there for years were suddenly having their access to the fisheries restricted.

Under the new rules, French boats which want to fish in Jersey’s waters need to prove they have history of previously working in those waters to keep operating.

Jersey’s external relations minister, Ian Gorst, said that of the 41 boats which sought licences under the new rules last Friday, all but 17 had provided the evidence required.

On Wednesday, the UK and Jersey both hit out at “disproportionate” threats from France after warnings that electricity to the island could be cut amid the dispute.

Why is fishing a controversial Brexit issue?

London and Brussels found fishing and control of the seas a sticking point during the Brexit negotiations.

The issue has symbolic significance in both the UK and the EU.

The industry is highly concentrated around fishing port towns on both sides of the Channel and any impact on the sector is felt most strongly in those areas.

When the Brexit deal was struck in December, the Government was accused of selling out the industry with the agreement which included a transition period allowing EU and UK fishing vessels access to each other’s waters for another five years.

The transition period was cut to five-and-a-half years from the 14 years first demanded by the EU, and Brussels reduced its share of the quota by 25%.

The total number of fishers on UK registered boats was around 12,000 in 2019, according to a House of Commons Library briefing.

Is this the first dispute the UK has had over fish?

Royal Navy boats were also deployed during the “cod wars” between the UK and Iceland – fishing rights disputes which ran from the 1950s until the 1970s.

The acrimonious and long-running feud saw violent clashes, with boats ramming into each other, the nets of trawlers cut, and the Navy sent out for protection.

The disputes effectively ended long-distance fishing by British trawlers.

[zzebowa]

Jersey is not part of the UK, this act by Jersey, independent of the UK, is to stop NEW fishermen coming into their waters, and allow only those who have traditionally fished there. It is that simple.

And it BEBNEFUITS those French who have always fished there. But it doesn't benefit others, who can no longer access UK waters. Without this new law, those other fishermen would have raped Jerseys waters to death.

[jackdlamb]

They've fished their own waters completely barren, that's what it's about really. If they could get enough fish in their own waters they wouldn't be there in the first place.

[tawan]

I hope it does not kick off the British navy and government are struggling to stop unarmed people in a rubber dinghy.

[geoffsweeney]

You forgot to mention that fish caught by Channel Island boats cannot land them in French ports. As they are dirty . But the same fish caught on the Channel Islands by French boats are clean. And ok for them to land.

[starsailor]

So, basically prove you have a history of fishing in the waters round Jersey and you can continue. The French obviously wish to simply overfish and wipe out stocks with no restrictions. Maybe all fishing needs to be banned by EU vessels until they behave?

[alanramsay]

Apart from being about fish, it’s just another thing to distract us all from the genocide that’s taking place.

[Stacey......]

I'm not sure but anything that annoys the French can only be a good thing

[andrewrowe]

I wonder if all of these French that are complaining that they have been fishing those waters for years were fishing them for years 6 months ago or were they in UK waters and now can't give the uk the data that is needed to get a UK licence because they were way over their quotas and don't want to show it

[magnuscarter]

" The French cannot forgive us because they owe us so much ." ~ Winston Churchill .

[clarkkent]

France need to cut ties with the eu so that decent relations can resume (Far from the only reason too).

[steviewonder]

i suggest we import a million candles to the channel islands.
they are going to need them.

[guff]

Civilization and Frogz do not go hand in hand.

[mbdulka]

The history if Jersey and other Baliwick islands is cool -- I just read about it, I suggest others do too. I can see the argument from both sides, but Jersey rules are in play.

[polygamous]

I do Not see where the "Dispute" is, Britain is OUT of the EU so this Must surely mean EU boats must also be out of British territorial waters what can be simpler? If Britain wants to issue licenses to a number of EU fishing boats so be it, If not they have no right to fish in British waters, same as British farmers have no right to go into EU farms n pick their produce, its NP its British fish if they want it they are free to buy it

[fazertace]

Fishing obviously. What a stupid question.

[seedslife]

What are France gonna do surrender ferociously 😂😂😂😂

[alfsmith]

I have to assume the dislike is because the video mentioned the Cod wars, which Britain lost..
It's no good talking in facts to Brexitheads..

[gavinharding]

Why dont they just get a license ??
Then they can fish ??