Islands at war as Jersey minister stands up to Guernsey fishing scheme

Wednesday 15 April 2015

Jersey’s Environment Minister is part-funding a legal challenge against the Guernsey government’s fishing rules that bar our fisherman from working in their waters.

A Jersey fisherman is taking Guernsey’s government to court over their licensing system effectively bans our fishermen from fishing in their waters, while theirs are free to fish around Jersey’s shores. His first court challenge failed, but now Deputy Steve Luce has committed an unconfirmed sum – believed to be around £5,000 – and thrown his weight behind the Jersey fishing fleet.

He says that he’s taken the step to show his support for the industry, and to send a clear signal to Guernsey’s politicians that he is taking the issue seriously.

“I am certainly 100% supportive from a political point of view and I would like ot think that we can somehow make some progress,” he said.

“It’s not an ideal situation. I would be much happier if we were not arguing. It is very sad but we are where we are, and I am trying to help.”

Deputy Luce – who used to be a major shellfish farmer but who does not have any commercial interest in the fishing industry – pointed out that in centuries past, Jersey’s fishermen have fished away as Gaspe in Canada and Newfoundland. He said it would be crazy to think that all that time ago, they went that far but never fished in waters around Guernsey just a few miles away – and that history should be recognised with modern-day fishing rights.

The latest legal challenge is just the latest step in 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.