Armada protest in fishing crisis?

Saturday 22nd October 2011, 3:00PM BST.

Don Thompson, president of the Jersey Fishermen's Association

JERSEY fishermen are threatening a mass protest in Guernsey over controversial new laws which could ban the Island’s fleet from lucrative fishing grounds.

The Sarnians are on the brink of signing an agreement with the UK to give them control over the seas within 12 miles of the shore and allow officials to impose licensing conditions on vessels wanting to fish in the area.

Island fishermen claim they are now facing their ‘biggest ever crisis’ and say they will consider sailing to Guernsey in a show of solidarity if their concerns are not resolved.

Don Thompson, 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 had failed to address their concerns.

He added that although he hoped further talks would end the dispute, he could not rule out a repeat of the 2005 protest over fishing rights when Jersey fishermen sailed into Guernsey’s harbour.

Read the full story in the Jersey Evening Post. Click here for subscription details. Individual editions are also available online.

1
Scouser

October 23, 2011 at 11:39 am

Grow up and get a proper job as a money launderer with the banks and trust companies here in Jersey …..it’s much more worthwhile than frightening the poor fishies

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2
Raindog

October 23, 2011 at 12:31 pm

Surely Guernsey has a right to protect its fishing grounds and fish stocks from those that seek to exploit it. It’s about time Jersey started protecting our own fish stocks rather than pandering to the commercial fishermen who will complain that conservation measures will adversely affect their profession. They need to look at the long term and accept that if nothing is done, they will destroy their own liveliehoods.

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3
Adrian

October 23, 2011 at 8:01 pm

I seem to remember when Jersey did a deal with the French without reference Guernsey fishermen, why should Guernsey bother after this treatment?

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4
Seaman Staines

October 24, 2011 at 7:40 am

So Jersey is to send an armada of fishing boats to protest in Guernsey. It’s hardly going to be the Spanish armada is it, better tell them when you get there otherwise they might not notice.

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5
Carts

October 24, 2011 at 11:48 am

You might find a slightly opposing view here – http://www.thisisguernsey.com/2011/10/22/jersey-fishing-fleet-could-come-sailing-in/

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6
percy

October 24, 2011 at 3:29 pm

Yet again Jersey fisherman winge and moan, they are not interested in preserving Bass stocks in Jersey or Guernsey for the future. Just short term gain as usual

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7
R B Bougourd

October 24, 2011 at 8:35 pm

#5 refers us to: http://www.thisisguernsey.com/2011/10/22/jersey-fishing-fleet-could-come-sailing-in/

..and what a pleasant surprise!

The old and perfectly functional format is still there that we used to enjoy on ‘This is Jersey’.

When are we going to get the ‘You say’ summary page and the link to ‘Letters to the Editor’ up and running again?

Once again Guernsey (despite my name, I’ve no connection with the place) appears to be the better place to hang out!

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8
small money

October 26, 2011 at 5:26 pm

lets hope that some one from the goverment is fighting hard for our fishermen.

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