JERSEY fishermen want compensation from Guernsey authorities for being unlawfully barred from fishing within the island’s three- to 12-mile limit.
Guernsey fishing industry sources claimed this week they had heard that combined compensation claims for loss of earnings from Jersey and UK fishermen could reach as high as £3m.
‘Those of us who have genuinely lost earnings are now looking to take up the option of suing Guernsey for compensation for damages and loss of earnings,’ confirmed Jersey fisherman Don Thompson, who is certain several fishing colleagues have very strong cases.
‘Several fishermen are pledging to seek compensation.
It’s not blackmail but we feel our licence applications have not been looked at in a fair and equitable way,’ he said.
Some Jersey boats have reportedly been losing between £300 and £400 a day and fishermen believe compensation claims will at least run into hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Article posted on 10th July, 2004 - 12.00am
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