Select a region
More than 1,500 people have called on decision-makers to back the French in the ‘war of the whelks’ over fishing rights in Jersey’s waters after Brexit.
Entitled ‘NO to limiting French fishing rights in Channel Island waters’, the petition was started by the ‘Association for the Promotion of Granville’s Ports’ last week.
Its publication followed lively protests at St. Helier harbour by both Norman and Breton fishermen, who claim the island’s new regime for controlling its waters after the UK’s departure from the EU is intentionally strangling them with red tape. This, they and the European Commission claim, breaks the UK-EU Brexit deal, which Jersey and the UK deny.
The online appeal calls for urgent action from France’s Minister of the Sea, Annick Girardin; Jersey’s External Relations Minister and Assistant Environment Minister, Senator Ian Gorst and Deputy Gregory Guida; and EU Fisheries Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius.
It reads: “From 1 January 2021, after Brexit, the Bay of Granville agreement that allowed Norman and Breton boats to fish in the territorial waters of the Channel Islands was called into question by the Jersey and UK authorities.
“This break in the agreement with France compromised the whole fishing industry. There are more than 300 vessels whose rights have been limited, deleted even. 2,000 jobs are at risk of disappearing.
“We’re asking the British and Jersey authorities to respect the agreements signed before Brexit.
“We’re asking the French authorities to stand alongside the fishing industry of the Bay of Granville.
“We’re asking the European Commission to find an acceptable solution for both sides of the Channel.”
It adds: “We express our unwavering support for traditional, artisanal fishing because it is one of the pillars of our culture. Nothing should stop the people of the Bay of Granville from living harmoniously and managing marine resources together.”
Many signatories left comments sharing their motivations for signing.
Cathy Leseigneur was firm that “the English must respect the agreements”, while Sharon Deslignères suggested the picture was more confusing: “We’re under the impression that the British broke the treaty, no? What’s happened? This is a strange story. Is it another blow from ‘perfidious Albion’ or has there been a failure on the ‘froggies’’ (our) side?”
Nicholas Romero hinted at a sense of loss, saying: “200 years ago, the Minquiers were Norman.”
Didier Plouhinec’s support appeared to be a rally against globalisation: “Let’s not leave the Channel to the English and the major Dutch fishing companies, let’s not leave the Atlantic to the Spanish, let’s not allow our fishing zones to be invaded by globalisers under false ‘eco’ pretences.”
François Pierson suggested Jersey and France had simply been swept up in a Brexit struggle at a higher level: “Political discord should not take an industry hostage and risk ruining our historic ties with Jersey.”
On Thursday, the French branch of animal rights activists PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) unexpectedly weighed in on the fishing row.
“As negotiations resume between France and the UK over access to Jersey waters after Brexit, PETA calls for consideration of the fish themselves, innocent victims at the center of tensions between French and English fishermen. The association is asking for ‘Rights for fish, not for fishermen’,” the group said.
Qu’importe qu’ils soient capturés et tués par des pêcheurs anglais ou français, les poissons souffrent !
— PETA France (@PETA_France) May 13, 2021
Dans le conflit post-Brexit pour l’accès aux eaux de Jersey, une campagne de PETA demande des droits pour les poissons, pas pour les pêcheurs.
https://t.co/As2zBrB6kJ pic.twitter.com/HtfCvh7T5P
Pictured: "Whether they're captured and killed by English or French fishermen, fish suffer! Amid the dispute over post-Brexit access to Jersey's waters, a PETA campaign is demanding rights for fish, not fishermen," PETA France tweeted.
It added that it was hoping to place a poster with these words in Granville to remind people that fish are “sensitive creatures that suffer terribly when they are hooked, crushed in fishing nets, torn from the depths of the sea and gutted on the decks of fishing boats or left to suffocate over a long period – regardless of whether they are captured and killed by English or French fishermen.”
PETA continued: “Beyond a binational row, this situation should lead us to take the interests of fish themselves into account. It’s time to put the findings of scientific research on the sentience of marine life into action.
“Take action by no longer consuming marine animals (and land animals, which equally suffer) and adopting a plant-based diet.”
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.