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.

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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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billrla
billrla
2 years ago

Deploy the longbow archers. It worked well at Agincourt.

Something different
Something different
2 years ago

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.

Last edited 2 years ago by Something different
Herodotus
2 years ago

As I thought, turning off replies on the previous article was finger trouble!

Rogbob
Rogbob
2 years ago

Judging by the spirit of the French fishermen, its good for us they weren’t crewing the opposite side’s ships at Trafalgar!

Jamesy
Jamesy
2 years ago

Ships go in the water.

Something different
Something different
2 years ago
Reply to  Jamesy

Not quite following my good chap?

Nate m
Nate m
2 years ago

hopefully not…. we haven’t got nelson this time around!

Jeff Webb
Jeff Webb
2 years ago

But we need the Spanish to wade in as well for a ‘proper’ Trafalgar II.

Jonny
Jonny
2 years ago

It’s practically WW3

captain p wash
captain p wash
2 years ago

“French Boats and British Vessels” Huh ? what’s the difference.

Herodotus
2 years ago
Reply to  George Allison

😊

captain p wash
captain p wash
2 years ago
Reply to  Herodotus

💑

Jamesy
Jamesy
2 years ago
Reply to  Herodotus

Hi

captain p wash
captain p wash
2 years ago
Reply to  George Allison

Blimey, well I never !!! Lol though George, That’s a great answer….. I’ll try to not try to not include any avoidable words such as those in my future replies in the future….. 😂😂😂

Herodotus
2 years ago
Reply to  captain p wash

You have a future?

geoff
geoff
2 years ago
Reply to  Herodotus

Now Captain and Herodotus, stop playing silly buggers and answer my query about the mystery Belgian Patrol vessel!!

geoff
geoff
2 years ago
Reply to  captain p wash

.”…in my future replies going forward”😎

geoff
geoff
2 years ago
Reply to  George Allison

Indeed George- as a fellow dabbler in journalism, a page one requirement of good copy! An example gents-I would not write ..”as a fellow dabbler in journalism, a page one requirement of journalism”
Thats why I changed the word to ‘copy’

Captain P Wash
Captain P Wash
2 years ago
Reply to  geoff

I just call a Boat a Boat… Lol. 😅

dan
dan
2 years ago

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

captain p wash
captain p wash
2 years ago
Reply to  dan

It’s Too Bad, and it’s the fishing grounds I think…….🤔

lee1
lee1
2 years ago
Reply to  dan

Or that they are technically military vessels…

David
David
2 years ago
Reply to  lee1

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

lee1
lee1
2 years ago
Reply to  David

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… Read more »

Lt Aldo Raine
Lt Aldo Raine
2 years ago
Reply to  David

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

Lisa West (Comment Moderator)
Lisa West (Comment Moderator)
2 years ago
Reply to  David

Hi, please keep in mind our comment moderation policy with regards to offensive language. I have edited your comment to remove this but this comment should serve as a warning with regards to future posts.

lee1
lee1
2 years ago

No they are not happy that an apparent agreement has been reneged on…

James
James
2 years ago
Reply to  lee1

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… Read more »

lee1
lee1
2 years ago
Reply to  James

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.

Joe16
Joe16
2 years ago
Reply to  lee1

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…

Rob
Rob
2 years ago

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.

Fender
Fender
2 years ago
Reply to  Rob

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!

David
David
2 years ago
Reply to  Fender

Warship armed with… formidable…

20mm cannon, no less.

Steve
Steve
2 years ago
Reply to  David

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

lee1
lee1
2 years ago
Reply to  Rob

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.

John Clark
John Clark
2 years ago
Reply to  lee1

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… Read more »

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
2 years ago
Reply to  John Clark

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.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
2 years ago

Sorry for typos. Cannot get edit to work.

John Clark
John Clark
2 years ago

Very true mate……

captain p wash
captain p wash
2 years ago

Edit has gone….. What is written shall remain written 😂

captain p wash
captain p wash
2 years ago
Reply to  captain p wash

Lol….. it’s back now !

Nic
Nic
2 years ago

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.

lee1
lee1
2 years ago
Reply to  Nic

Lets not forget that we were in the wrong with regard to the Icelandic issue.

geoff
geoff
2 years ago

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??

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
2 years ago
Reply to  geoff

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.

geoff
geoff
2 years ago

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

Benjamin Rule
Benjamin Rule
2 years ago

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.

Kevvo
Kevvo
2 years ago

I used to nudge other craft like that just trying to get alongside a pontoon. No news here.

Mark B
Mark B
2 years ago

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.

James Fennell
James Fennell
2 years ago

appears to be be two pedalos – news?

Graham Haxell
Graham Haxell
2 years ago

Sacre bleu This means “war”! As Admiral Nelson said, “stand by to repel boarders”!

Leonidas
Leonidas
2 years ago

“Bring us alongside at pistol-shot.”