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Jersey’s main shellfish exporter has closed its doors again to fresh produce today and is suspending shipments to France in anticipation of retaliatory port blockages.
Aqua-Mar, which would usually export locally caught lobster and crab to Saint Malo once or twice a week, has shut its tanks and will not buy any more produce.
This is because its customs agent in the Breton port has told it that the French authorities will no longer accept shellfish imports from British merchants or fishermen.
Other British merchants that use Saint Malo have been told the same by their French contacts.
The port was not one of six listed by French Fisheries Minister Annick Girardin on Thursday as being subject to retaliatory measures, but it now appears that restrictions will also be applied at Saint Malo.
Pictured: It now appears restrictions will also be applied at Saint Malo, even though the port wasn't previously named by Ms Girardin.
This is not the first time that Aqua-Mar has been forced to close its doors on the Victoria Pier. In May, it had to do the same after French authorities responded to Jersey's first issuing of licences under the terms of the trade deal.
The French government announced a package of reprisals last week in response to what it said was the UK and Jersey’s refusal to issue all licences to French fishermen that it demanded.
These include heightened border checks on produce and vehicles, and strict adherence to safety and hygiene standards.
The UK and Jersey both maintain that it has correctly applied the terms of the post Brexit trade agreement between the UK and EU in issuing licences that allow EU fishermen to work in UK and Jersey territorial waters.
The French say that their retaliatory measures will begin from tomorrow if the UK and Jersey don’t back down.
Jersey has rejected 55 licence applications, which it says are for boats that have failed to provide the required data of past fishing activity, as specified in the trade agreement.
It is understood that the vast majority of these boats never fished around Jersey, but France maintains they should be given a licence to do so.
Aqua-Mar director Nathalie Porritt said that she hopeful a resolution would be found.
“The issue has now become UK-wide, so they have to find a resolution, and someone has to budge,’ she said.
“However, we are closed from today so fishermen will either have to sell locally, or use their own stores.
“This is because we have had it confirmed from our customs agent in Saint Malo, who deals directly with the French border inspection post there, that the port will not be accepting any shellfish from British importers until further notice.
“The next sailing isn’t until Saturday, but Condor has already told us that will not be accepting shellfish then.”
Ms Porritt said that the beginning of November was traditionally a quiet period anyway and this week’s big tides and forecasted poor weather meant that few fishermen were likely to be out.
“The next two weeks tend to be a quiet period before things start to ramp up for Christmas, so that is fortunate in many respects but obviously this situation can’t go on for forever.”
She added that her company – which employs four people locally and two drivers in France - would assess the situation at the end of this week before making any more decisions.
ANALYSIS: Lost in translation? Or wilfully deaf ears?
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