Guernsey announced on Wednesday 1 December that 43 fishing licences would finally be granted to French fishing vessels, who will then be able to continue to operate after 31 January 2022, the date upon which the current temporary licences expire.
This is in relation to 40 large vessels and 3 small ones, out of the total of 58 requests made by France.
With regard to the remaining boats, “any additional data will be considered”, Guernsey said.
The granting of these 43 definitive licences is “excellent news”, said the French Minister for the Sea, Annick Girardin. “We, the European Commission and France, have made good progress in a few weeks with Guernsey. Our efforts have paid off”, she said.
“This announcement comes after intensified talks and regular contacts at all levels between the Commission and the UK, as well as between the Commission and France. It is an important advancement in a complex process”, said the Commission (https://bit.ly/3ocy4eM ).
The institution has reported that progress over the last 2 months has been difficult and slow, with 5 licences granted for UK territorial waters and the issue of 5 permanent and 20 additional temporary licences for Jersey waters. “This brings the total number of permanent licences delivered for access to the UK territorial waters and the waters around Jersey and Guernsey to 281”.
Ms Girardin clarified that “the fight is not over: 111 licences are still to be obtained” for catching fish in Jersey and UK waters.
Since 1 January 2021, France has obtained around 1,000 fishing licences for British and Channel Islands waters, but Paris is still claiming around 100 more.
The European Commission had recently asked the parties to settle the post-Brexit dispute over fishing licences by 10 December (see EUROPE 12840/14). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)