A LEGAL battle has started in Guernsey’s courts over its new fishing licence regime.

COMMERCE and Employment has received approximately 40 applications from UK and Jersey fishermen seeking to operate in Bailiwick waters.

JERSEY fishermen fully support the new licensing regime introduced by Guernsey but are ‘bitterly disappointed’ that meetings between the islands have not taken place.

FISHERMEN yesterday said they believed that Guernsey’s industry was secured for future generations after the States agreed to introduce licensing to fish from three-to-12 miles off the island.

A LICENSING system for fisherman wishing to work in Guernsey’s three- to 12-mile limit will preserve local stock, those involved in the industry have said.

GUERNSEY and Jersey authorities must find a workable fisheries-management solution that is acceptable to both islands in the long term, says Jersey's Economic Development minister Philip Ozouf.

GUERNSEY and Jersey appear to remain deadlocked in the ongoing fishing dispute.

THE States should be asked to approve an accord on access agreements between Guernsey and Jersey fishermen, some members say.

GUERNSEY and Jersey fishermen will be given an equal number of licences to fish in each other's waters.

AN ATTEMPT to suspend the controversial fishing licence scheme failed in the Royal Court yesterday.