La paix at last? Maison de la Normandie reopens its doors

Friday 02 July 2021

A key step forward in repairing fractured diplomatic relations between Jersey and France over fishing came yesterday, as the Maison de la Normandie threw open its doors again for the first time in two months.

The office, which provides a key diplomatic link between the island and the Normandy region, had closed on 3 May in protest at “inexplicable” conditions officials said were attached to French fishing licences when they came into force.

Days later, dozens of French fishermen stormed St. Helier harbour to demonstrate their frustration at the post-Brexit arrangement. The European Commission gave their backing to the French fishers, suggesting Jersey's new permit system had broken the Brexit deal.

After nearly two months of "intensive discussions", Jersey’s Government confirmed on Monday that it would extend the transition period, allowing certain French vessels to continue to fish in island waters until the end of September – in line with requests from France’s Maritime Minister, Annick Girardin.

Manche Department President Jean Morin said that the decision to shut the office taken by his predecessor, Marc Lefèvre, had been a “strong decision [that] demonstrates our institutions’ commitment to the respect of Norman fishermen's historic rights."

Pictured: One of the protesting French vessels.

In a joint statement with Normandy President Hervé Morin and Maison de Normandie et de la Manche Chair Jean-Marc Julienne heralding the "easing of tensions", Jean Morin highlighted communications received from Jersey External Relation Minister showing willingness to repair relations with the island’s closest neighbour.

He said that, in return, the trio also wanted to make a “positive gesture to initiate the process of restoring a relationship of trust with our Jersey neighbours” and were therefore “pleased” to announce the reopening of the Maison de la Normandie et de la Manche.

However, the trio noted: “We do not forget that the situation is still not resolved permanently for our fishermen."

They said they will be keeping a close eye on discussions between Jersey, Guernsey, the United Kingdom, the European Union and France, adding that they “will have to find lasting solutions to the problems encountered by our fishing fleet since the introduction of the new post-Brexit licenses."

The statement went on to say it was now up to the EU and UK to decide, “as soon as possible” on how the Brexit Trade Agreement should be applied in a way that respects the "political objective of continuity of the historical rights of Norman fishermen in Channel Islands waters while respecting the sustainable management of marine resources."

Under the terms of the post-Brexit trade deal between the UK and EU, Jersey became responsible for managing its own waters, ending a previous shared management arrangement that had been defined in the Bay of Granville Agreement, signed in 2000.

Pictured: The Royal Navy sent two small warships to the Island to monitor May's protest by French fishermen. 

Following the signing of the trade agreement last December, an interim arrangement was agreed at the start of this year to permit French fishing boats holding a previous Granville Bay licence to operate in Jersey waters while the new licence system was being established. 

The trade deal requires evidence of the “extent and nature” of previous fishing activity to be demonstrated in order for access to be granted.

The amnesty proposed by Jersey this week was good news for 74 vessels of more than 12m in size. But the trio’s statement said that the situation for those under 12m remained “worrying.”

Jean Morin explained that 10 boats in the Manche region that only began fishing in 2019 and 2020 were also facing difficulties, as they didn’t have enough proof of prior activity to gain a permit to operate in Jersey waters.

He said this left the boats “forced to stay in port”, adding that it was “unacceptable” and that replacement vessels ought to be considered.