Footage of the two boats colliding during what was termed a “blockade” of the island by fishermen came after Prime Minister Boris Johnson sent two Royal Navy patrol ships to Jersey “as a precaution”.

Two French and Two British patrol vessels were in the area. The British and French vessels appeared to be babysitting the fishermen to stop any further escalation.

It appears the rhetoric was largely confined to the front pages of certain news papers absolutely salivating at the news of some sort of minor conflict with France while British and French sailors just got on with the job in a professional way

Around 50 to 60 French fishing vessels sailed to the waters off the island to disrupt access earlier today

However, after apparently proving their point, the French boats left.

Following the deployment of French patrol boats a member of the Jersey Militia reenactment group was seen at Elizabeth Castle firing a musket towards the French boats.

Why is this happening?

The fishermen are angry over lack of access to waters because of new licensing regulations.

Jersey officials aboard Jersey’s fisheries protection vessel in St Helier Harbour came alongside a boat with representatives of the French fishermen aboard in order to respect COVID-19 social distancing rules during two hours of discussions.

Ian Gorst, the island’s Minister of External Affairs, said the talks were positive, however a spokesman for Normandy fishermen said the talks put them “deeper into deadlock”, and warned that retaliatory measures would be taken if this did not get resolved.

You can read more about the dispute here.

George Allison
George Allison
George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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53 COMMENTS

  2. Minor dispute over fish, some moderate posturing going on by all sides, four NATO member vessels keeping an eye on things. Nothing to see here, move along…

    Or

    Our brave sailors in two ‘battleships’ protect our fish against the dastardly French, Trafalgar round 2 about to kick off.

  5. Is to bad nobody will stand up to the Chicom fishing boats that are decimating the fishing populations. Ugh

      • Certainly militia! They need reining in and that means helping… some… South American navies for example.

        • I am not sure racist names are any help to an argument…

          However they are not militia. All fishing boats in China are by law, part of the armed forces whether the crew like it or not. They are often used to intimidate their neighbours and we allow it to go on. Just like we allow the Genocide they are currently committing. We seem to respond with sanctions. Given that our own MPs have shrugged off the retaliatory sanctions by China, I doubt the Chinese leadership is bothered by the sanctions placed on them either. So if they are not bothered then how much of a punishment is it and what is the point…

          What we should be doing is making a very real move to pull away from China. That does not mean making everything in the UK as that is clearly not possible or realistic. However it does mean we should be buying from nations other than China. It also means we should be increasing the aid budget rather than reducing it. That is our tool to fight China.

        • Calling out your foul racist language. No excuse – you should be banned from this site for your unacceptable post!

    • Seems to be several takes on said agreement depending on what news outlet you read.

      Some arent happy as the actual agreement states the vessels applying to fish in the Jersey waters have to have fished in them before and a number simply cant prove they have.

      Other sources are saying Jersey has altered the agreement further after it was made by asking for further requirements.

      Another is saying the French fishermen simply dont want to or cant be bothered to fill out the paperwork to do what they need to do under the new agreements.

      Who knows exactly what is going on.

      • Indeed and without being privy to the exact text of the agreements we will neve know. However it is clear that there at the very least has been some misunderstandings and miscommunication. We really ought to do better.

        • I couldn’t agree more. In this day and age of emails and online forms, it shouldn’t be this hard to confirm new rules and register 100 boats. It’s not like there are hundreds of vessels involved…

  7. Yes one idiot (everyone has a village idiot) shunted another boat, hardly Pearl Harbour. The situation needs everyone to calm down and for some Gov officials to get together and work the problem.

    On a purely defence note, the Rivers really could do with loitering drones to help enforce fishing rules. I know they don’t have Helos but a loitering drone would prove most helpful with this kind of protest and better still for looking for boats operating illegally.

    • Personally, I’m just smiling at the tabloids raving about the powerful weapons fit on the Rivers. The writers clearly haven’t read too many comments on this forum!

        • Water cannons or frontal armour for nudging boats out of the way would be more useful. The rivers are hardly going to open fire on unarmed civilian fishing boats

    • I think you are not correct. That is not what the argument is about. The French feel they had a certain agreement and they feel that the agreement they had has been gone back on.

      • Typical French reaction to just about anything the French don’t like really, it’s just ‘yellow jackets in boats’.

        Anyone who does business in France, or travels there on regular basis, will see this for what it is, a very familiar, man the baracades shout and howl your outrage against whoever has pissed you off this week! Seen it many, many times….

        The French have been having foreign minded, hissy fits for 200 years, bless em!

        Still, lovely people and great food!

        Just watched the usual super Woke Brussels Broadcasting Company Question Time, Royal Navy “Gun Ships” that should be kept away, was the typical Lefty miss guided droning comment….

        No wonder the Monkey Hangers have booted out Labour, talk about a lost cause, how embarrassing for them……

        • What? Keep away OPV who’s main role in the RN is fisheries protection? And this is a major fisheries issue in a crown dependency? To which HMG eoukd be equally plastered for if they sent nothing at all
          It doesn’t suit their narrative that the RN and MN ships just observed.
          I’ve not watched that show for years.
          Luckily the public see the wood for the trees.
          It was all exaggerated the the tabloids but no issue whatsoever with HMG using their assets.
          Respect.

  8. Well is not the Icelandic cod wars , with the Leander class ships defending the British trawlers , trawl wires being and ships being rammed.
    It will solved over a few glasses of wine.

  9. Has anyone noticed or can explain why footage of a Belgian Navy vessel is being used by Sky News in the coverage of this situation including when they have just reported the withdrawal of RN OPV’s??

    • Don’t trust media geoff.

      There is footage of Indian covid sufferers on stretchers that actually happened during a gas explosion last year it seems.

      As long as it looks the part to go with the current story/narrative.

      As for the Belgian vessel, no idea? Not seen.

      Regards.

      • Morning Daniele. I have a screen shot of it but can’t find the original footage-seems to have been deleted!!

  10. When I visited Elizabeth Castle the reenactment group also fired muskets towards the sea to please the tourists, so I wouldn’t read too much into that either.

  12. Storm in a teacup if you ask me. The French do tend to reach for the pitchforks at the slightest thing. The Jersey Government just seem to be trying to institute some environmental conditions – no big deal.

    As for cutting off the power. The French supply power all over Europe. I don’t think they really want to be seen as an unreliable supplier. Could be bad for business and relationships.

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