UK recalls navy vessels as Jersey standoff with France eases Published on Share
A tense post-Brexit standoff between France and Britain eased Thursday, as London recalled two navy vessels sent to Jersey and protesting French fishermen returned home without blockading the island’s main port.
The latest blow to cross-Channel relations was caused by angry French fishermen protesting over new fish licensing arrangements on the Channel island following Britain’s departure from the European Union.
At dawn, a flotilla of around 50 trawlers had massed in front of the Saint Helier harbour on Jersey, a picturesque self-governing territory that is dependent on Britain for its defence.
Boris Johnson yesterday deployed the Royal Navy to protect Jersey from the threat of a French blockade.
The dramatic move came after French fishermen – backed by Macron’s ministers – vowed to shut off the island unless they could fish more British waters, a threat branded an “act of war”.
The furious spat erupted after the island – which is under Britain’s protection – slapped French trawlers with post-Brexit fishing licences requirements.
About 100 French fishing vessels are due to sail to Jersey’s port on Thursday as part of a protest against the new rules, the head of fisheries for the Normandy region, Dimitri Rogoff has said.
YOU RE BREXT
Now French trawlers threaten to blockade Calais to stop British goods arriving in the EU after Jersey armada
Updated: May 6 2021, 20:11 ET
FRENCH fishermen are now threatening to blockade Calais to prevent British goods entering the EU.
The move came after around 100 boats retreated back to France following a blockade of Jersey, warning next time there will be war .
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A French fishermen s leader has threatened to stop British goods getting to the EUCredit: PA
Angry French fishermen set off flares as dozens of boats began steaming in just after 6am as the huge row over post-Brexit fishing rights intensified.
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May 03, 2021
UK Withdraws Patrol Boats From Jersey After French Brexit Row
PARIS (Reuters) -Britain withdrew its Royal Navy vessels from the waters off Jersey on Thursday but said it would remain on standby to support the Channel island after a dispute with France over post-Brexit fishing rights escalated rapidly.
France and Britain both deployed maritime patrol vessels to the area after a flotilla of French trawlers sailed in protest to Jersey’s main harbour and a French minister suggested earlier in the week that Paris might cut electricity to the island.
French fishermen say they are being unfairly deprived of access to rich fishing grounds off the coast of Jersey, a self-governing British Crown Dependency.
Despite the strain, in the early evening the British government reported the situation had been resolved. In a statement, the Prime Minister s office said: We are pleased French fishing boats have now left the vicinity of Jersey. Given the situation is resolved for now, the Royal Navy Offshore Patrol Vessels will prepare to return to port in the UK. We remain on standby to provide any further assistance Jersey requests. The Trade and Cooperation Agreement brought in changes to fishing arrangements between the UK and the EU. Jersey authorities have a right to regulate fisheries in their waters under this agreement and we support them in exercising those rights.