Two Royal Navy vessels are now patrolling waters around Jersey amid concerns of a possible blockade of the island, as the row between France and Jersey continues to escalate over post-Brexit fishing rights. HMS Severn and HMS Tamar have been deployed by the UK Government to “monitor the situation” at the Channel Island amid a protest by French fishing vessels at the port of St Helier over the lack of access. It follows a warning from French maritime minister Annick Girardin on Tuesday that the country is ready to take “retaliatory measures”, accusing Jersey of dragging its feet over issuing new licences to French boats.
But there was also support among some Jersey fishers for the protest.
Chris Le Masurier, the owner of the Jersey Oyster Company, described conditions placed upon the new post-Brexit fishing licences issued to Breton and Norman fishers as “insulting and discriminatory”.
The EU also backed the claims of French fishers. In a statement issued overnight, the European Commission said the conditions set on licences for fishing in the Channel Island’s waters were in breach of the trade agreement struck on Christmas Eve.
A spokesperson said: “The commission was notified on Friday 30 April by UK authorities of the granting of 41 licences to EU vessels for fishing in Jersey’s territorial waters as of 1 May with specific conditions.
The Athos boat travelled along the River Seine from Rouen to Le Havre then around Cherbourg towards Jersey - after two UK Navy vessels began patrolling waters around the island.