France threatens to cut off Jersey’s electricity as ‘retaliation’ amid Brexit fishing row
French fishermen accuse UK of dragging feet over issuing new licences
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.France has threatened to cut off Jersey’s electricity supply amid an ongoing row over post-Brexit fishing rights.
Maritime minister Annick Girdardin suggested the move during a speech in the French Parliament, warning Paris was ready to use “retaliatory measures” following claims French fishermen are being blocked from operating in the Channel Islands.
“I am sorry it has come to this [but] we will do so if we have to,” she said on Tuesday.
Jersey, the largest of the Channel Islands, relies on France for 95 per cent of its electricity supply, which is fed through three underwater cables.
The minister’s comments mark the latest escalation in a row over access to British fishing waters.
Boris Johnson denies responsibility for Brexit fishing licence delays 
Fury over ‘devastating’ collapse of post-Brexit fishing talks
Brexit: Government’s failure to strike Norway fishing deal ‘absolutely disastrous’ 
‘Let him answer the question, Barry’: Parliamentary committee on fishing descends into Handforth-esque chaos
French seamen have accused the UK of dragging its feet over issuing new licences needed to fish in its waters.
Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, French fishing boat operators must now prove they have fished in UK waters for five years before the 2016 referendum to obtain a licence – which only Jersey can issue.
On Friday, Jersey authorised 41 French fishing vessels - equipped with technology enabling their location to be tracked - to fish in waters off the island.
But the French government claimed there were other new rules the country had not been informed about and complained its fishermen were being limited to where and how long they could fish for.
Last month, French fishermen blockaded a Channel port to hold up British catches arriving by lorry in protest against the new rules, which they believe to be overly bureaucratic.
At the time, Bruno Margolle, who leads the main fishermen’s cooperative in Boulogne-sur-Mer, told Reuters news agency: “We thought it would be a matter of days. Four months on, we’ve barely moved forwards.”
The British government has previously denied responsibility for the licence delays, with the prime minister’s official spokesman saying it takes an “evidenced-based approach” to licensing EU fishing vessels using the information supplied by the European Commission.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments