GUERNSEY does not realise what good fishing access rights it has compared to Jersey. The claims by Mike Taylor, chairman of the Jersey Fishermen’s Association, come in the light of a decision by Guernsey to delay a meeting with Jersey aimed at resolving the long-running dispute over rights.
It has been postponed indefinitely as Guernsey awaits a response from the UK’s Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on certain issues.
‘I don’t think Guernsey quite realises compared to Jersey quite what a good situation they have,’ said Mr Taylor.
‘Under the 1964 London Convention, Guernsey was given an exclusive six-mile limit from all the rocks around the Bailiwick of Guernsey and between the six- and 12-mile limit the French can fish for demersal fish and crabs, whereas Jersey has only a three-mile exclusive limit and we have to share our reefs like the Ecrehos and Les Minquiers with the French, which is a situation probably unheard of anywhere in Europe.
‘All the Jersey fishermen are seeking is to continue fishing in the waters adjacent to Guernsey, where they have traditionally fished.
‘We felt very badly done by when Guernsey announced its licensing scheme. We have been to court and won the case convincingly.
‘I will be doing my best to make sure the UK Government is fully informed of just what is going on.
‘Nobody in Guernsey seems to want to talk - we should be able to reach an agreement,’ he said.
He said Guernsey had already signed the Vanguard Accord, an ‘agreement to agree’, and now did not even appear to want to discuss it. ‘We do genuinely want to try and get an agreement with Guernsey over fishing so that they can get their fishing agreement with the UK.
‘It seems that Guernsey is trying to get a fisheries-management agreement with the UK without reaching a fishing
agreement between Guernsey and Jersey.
‘Guernsey appears to be blocking a fishing agreement between Jersey and Guernsey for waters adjacent to Guernsey,’ claimed Mr Taylor.
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