Jersey fishing fleet could come sailing in
Saturday 22nd October 2011, 2:29PM BST.
A THREAT by Jersey fishermen over controversial new laws to licence a Guernsey 12-mile limit could see a fleet sailing here en masse in a show of solidarity.
The Bailiwick is on the brink of signing an agreement with the UK to have control over the seas between three to 12 miles out and allow officials to impose licensing conditions on vessels wanting to fish in the area.
Jersey fishermen claim they are now facing their ‘biggest ever crisis’ and say they will consider the visit to Guernsey if their concerns are not resolved.
Don Thompson (pictured), president of the Jersey Fishermen’s Association, said that talks this week between Jersey, Guernsey and officials from the UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have failed to address their concerns.
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That is because it is a Bailiwick issue not a Jersey issue, this is about Bailiwick waters, our waters, Guernsey, Alderney and Sark, and it has absolutely nothing to do with Jersey. Jersey have tried to wreck this agreement for purely selfish reasons and whenever we have had agreements with Jersey on fishing matters they always want agreements that favour them. This is about preserving and managing fish stocks in our waters and any restrictions on boats must also apply to them. I also think Jersey is in danger of wrecking the political relationship with Guernsey that has been built over several years over this issue and that would be unfortunate.
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Call that a threat?
I’ll be ready with my steel toe capped wellies and the machine fully fuelled.
Next they will be wanting to have a piece of our successful rabbit population. Over my dead body.
Bring it!
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The reason why the Jersey fishermen are in crisis is because they have and do not manage their fishing activities in s sustainable way. An example they recently spent a great deal of money to get MSC accreditation for their lobster fishery yet still use parlour pots these are banned elsewhere due to bycatch and other issues. Their bass landings are now half of what they were a few years ago yet they refuse to implement any conservation measures. They are also lobbying to have non EU labour on their vessels. They care not one iota about anything but lining their pockets to the detriment of others. Good luck Guernsey you deserve to have the right to govern your waters as Jersey already has just make a better job of it than they do.
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When the premier channel isle says jump
May i suggest guernsey JUMPS
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“…failed to address their concerns”? Stuff their concerns. This is about the Guernsey Bailiwick’s own territorial waters. Too bad if the Jersey crowd don’t like it – maybe they should start looking after their own waters instead of racing over here at every opportunity to suck our fish out of our waters. It’s bad enough having to watch the English and French (any maybe one or two greedy Guernsey boats) helping themselves to our stocks, without having the crapauds joining in as well.
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I can understand Jersey fisherman’s anger over Guernsey having a 12-mile limit when they don’t.
Oh, but reading elsewhere Jersey does seem to have their own 12-mile limit.
Must be a case of wanting their cake and eating Guernsey’s too or in this case the fish. Typical.
If they had managed their own waters better perhaps they would not need to ravage others territorial waters.
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And how many of our vessels are currently allowed to fish their waters?
You can’t have your lobster and eat it !
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My feeling is rather than 12 miles we ought to extend the exclusive zone to the Median line in the directions of Britain, France and Jersey not just for fishing but all resources electric, mineral, plant etc.
Political Pygmies rather than Men of vision.
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Maybe Guernseys fish,lobsters and crabs have a more nourishing diet than those of Jersey?
—–
Don
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Les Beaucamps Boy – may that’s because international law would not recognise our rights to such an extended area, even if we did try to claim it.
it seems that your own vision is a little muddied
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Could someone ask them to pick up some cornbeef and a sixpack, its cheaper at Bennest of Millbrook than is available locale ly
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@Terry English aka Langlois
Iceland got 200 miles because they were prepared to stand up! I would not have liked to be at Hastings with you on my flank!
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Good luck Guernsey. You stick to your guns.
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I wonder if this will lead to legal disputes and another secretive multimillion pound pay off?
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LBB – yes, but Iceland had some bargaining power and were willing to take on the Royal Navy. I think that we have more worthwhile conversations to have with the UK than picking a fight with them over fishing rights in a few extra miles of sea in a major shipping lane.
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They just want free fish and chips like the frogs got! Someone call for Ron the Onion!
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I hope that the Police have already checked with the Crown Officers about what arrestable offences might be committed by such action
There might even be a chance to confiscate and sell off a couple of Jersey boats
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