7 hours ago
AS dozens of vessels descended on Jersey on Thursday morning, officials from four French ports demanded to speak to representatives from the Island’s government.
Cyril Piraud, Camille Lecreuil, Guilmen Damien, Chris Le Masurier (Normandy Trader), Julien Mouton, Erhel Nicolas with Assistant Environment Minister Gregory Guida and Greg Morel, director of marine resources pictured during talks yesterday. Picture: JON GUEGAN. (30791467)
And, as the tensions boiled over, one of the protesting fishermen, Cyril Piraud, from Granville, who has just spent three million euros on two new trawler vessels, said he could face bankruptcy if he was prevented from operating in the Island.
Tensions between Jersey and France over fishing are certainly increasing but why does that mean the island could lose its electricity supply from the continent?
Last modified on Wed 5 May 2021 13.26 EDT
Franceâs response to post-Brexit fishing restrictions around the island of Jersey has been described as âpretty close to an act of warâ by fishing community leaders in St Helier. They say they have been told 100 boats are being lined up in France for a 6am blockade at the main Channel Island port on Thursday, threatening food and energy supplies.
âIt was inevitable that the French would kick off,â said the head of the Jersey Fishermenâs Association, Don Thompson. âBut the reaction weâre seeing from France is almost like something you would see from Iran or Russia. Theyâre not just saying they can cut off the electricity supply, French fishermen are saying that theyâre coming tomorrow [Thursday] to blockade the harbour in time to stop the ferries from coming in so thereâll be no food supply and no fuel coming into the island either. So it comes pretty close to an act of war, this.â