Post-Brexit fishing: show of force by French fishermen in Jersey

Jersey's Deputy Environment Minister Guida speaks with representatives of French fishermen in St Helier Jersey's Deputy Environment Minister, Gregory Guida, talks with representatives of French fishermen in St. Helier, Jersey, May 6, 2021. via REUTERS - ED TAYLOR

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Sixty fishing boats protested in peace and under the surveillance of the Royal Navy, Thursday morning in front of the Anglo-Norman island of Jersey, against the fishing conditions imposed on French sailors after Brexit, before returning to their ports in the early afternoon.

All under the surveillance of two British warships and French patrol boats.

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With our correspondent in London,

Muriel Delcroix

After this show of force, return to land and return to calm, therefore, but for how long, because opinions differ on the outcome of the talks.

The Minister of External Affairs of the Channel Island, Ian Gorst, spoke of "

positive

 "

discussions 

but without disclosing any details.

For their part, the French fishermen are satisfied to have been able to speak directly to the Jersey authorities rather than going through Paris or Brussels to express their frustration, but they left unhappy without having obtained any progress from Jersey.

They want to see the new post-Brexit requirements relaxed on their access to Jersey waters and have the issue resolved behind the scenes at a political level between the British and the Europeans and threaten to start over.

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Fishing: French fishing boats demonstrate in front of the port of Saint-Hélier in Jersey

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, meanwhile, spoke with the Jersey authorities and confirmed that the two Royal Navy warships sent to St Helier would remain pre-emptively for the time being even if a naval battle appeared very unlikely.

We are here above all in the symbol on the extremely emotional subject of fishing and on an election day here, the Prime Minister who made Brexit a reality was not going to miss such a great opportunity to go to the rescue of the fishermen of Jersey and to tighten his muscles against France.

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  • France

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  • Agriculture and Fishing

  • Brexit

  • European Union