UK ban on Guernsey fishermen opens up waters to Jersey

Friday 31 July 2015

Guernsey’s fishermen have been banned from UK and EU waters over failure to stick to catch quotas – and the move means Jersey’s fishermen are now free to fish off Guernsey shores again.

The UK government yesterday told Guernsey that they were ending their fishing rights agreement effective from Sunday.

Not only does it mean that Guernsey’s fishermen will be barred from fishing in UK and EU waters, it also means that Guernsey’s controversial ban on Jersey fishermen operating between the three- and 12-mile limits is also over.

The news is believed to be down to Guernsey’s refusal to stick to EU quotas on the number of rays that fishermen could catch – the island’s former Chief Minister Lyndon Trott, an ex-fisherman, said that quotas would make their fishing industry unsustainable.

Just weeks ago, Jersey’s Environment Minister Steve Luce agreed to part-fund a legal challenge through Guernsey’s courts against the ban that Guernsey’s politicians imposed on Jersey fishermen operating within their three-12 mile limits.

The legal challenge is part of a 12-year battle over Guernsey’s fishing licensing scheme - around 80 applications by Jersey fishermen were made when the licensing system was introduced in 2003, but only 10 were granted – the first court cases began just weeks afterwards.

Jersey fisherman Steve Channing said that the UK Environment Minister’s move had come as a surprise – but a very welcome one.

He said: “As far as I can gather, from Sunday we will be able to go back there until they work out a deal with the UK.

“I believe that the reason is fish quotas.”

Deputy Carolyn Labey – who has fought for local fishermen’s rights for years – said that that she hoped that the news encouraged Guernsey to take a less hostile and more co-operative attitude with Jersey’s fishing fleet, and might open the door to a joint agreement with the UK.

“Personally, I would like [Guernsey Commerce and Employment Minister] Kevin Stewart to now start open negotiations with Jersey about how we can establish a joint Fisheries Management Agreement with the UK,” she said.