Brexit LIVE: France loses patience on fishing – ‘violent’ protest threat as deadline looms

Brexit: Sandell hits out at 'disgraceful' lack of Norway deal

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

An amnesty period allowing French vessels unfettered access to the British Crown Dependency waters is due to expire on September 30 – before new measures come into place. From October 1, French vessels have to show evidence of their history fishing in Jersey waters else they face not being issued with licences and being barred from working in the English Channel.

Crunch negotiations have been taking place over the last few weeks to resolve the issues but Jersey ministers, alongside UK counterparts, have yet to reach an agreement with France.

Jean Morin, president of France’s La Manche region expressed “serious concern” over the possibility of more action in St Helier Harbour.

Mr Morin said the protests could be a repeat of May 6 when France and Britain sent patrol vessels off the shores of Jersey after a flotilla of French fishing boats sailed to the island.

In a press conference last night, he added “I have voiced my concern this morning about the agitation in the fishing industry, particularly in La Manche and Normandy.

“A demonstration was taking place in Cherbourg today and these are more assertive.

“I did express my concern in a previous video conference to my Channel Islands colleagues that if there was a further postponement [of a new fishing licensing scheme] we could see something along the lines of what we saw on 6 May, if not more violent.”

French fishermen claim there are still up to 80 small vessels which are under 12 metres that are waiting to receive a fishing licence.

FOR THE LATEST BREXIT NEWS, SEE BELOW: 

UK petrol station problems show Brexit was

French European Affairs Minister Clement Beaune has said the petrol stations problems currently faced by Britain reflected the “intellectual fraud” that was Brexit.

“Every day, we see the intellectual fraud that was Brexit,” Beaune told France 2 television this morning. 

BP said yesterday that nearly a third of its British petrol stations had run out of the two main grades of fuel, as panic buying forced the government to suspend competition laws and allow firms to work together to ease shortages. 

Source: Read Full Article