Bailiwick fishermen banned from UK and EU waters

The temporary ban on Guernsey fisherman entering EU and UK waters was lifted today.

The UK suspended the Fisheries Management Agreement between the UK and the Bailiwick last month in a row over quotas. It also suspended the reciprocal UK licences held by Bailiwick fishermen.

DEFRA have agreed to lift the suspension on the reciprocal licences issued to Guernsey registered vessels by the MMO but have not lifted the suspension on the Fisheries Management Agreement at this time.

The suspension came as a surprise to fishermen and Commerce and Employment Minister, Kevin Stewart, who called the move 'irrational'.

The UK government's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said Guernsey had not been honouring the agreement they signed, and are refusing to comply with the Common Fisheries Policy rules.

UK Fisheries Minister George Eustice has been accused of behaving like a "bully" over the current fishing dispute with Guernsey.

Officials at Westminster have banned Guernsey fishermen from working in EU and UK waters after the island's government refused to introduce fishing quotas.

The States argues its licensing system is an adequate way to ensure the sustainability of fish stocks.

Today, in the Sunday Telegraph, columnist Christopher Brooker argues the UK's move is illegal, and threatens to damage the constitutional relationship between there and the Bailiwick of Guernsey.

You can read the full comment piece here.

In the past fortnight, Guernsey's government has told island fishermen it has no plan to introduce quotas and back down.

The Chief Minister has written to Lord Faulks, who looks after the relationship between Westminster and the Channel Islands to intervene and break the deadlock.

Guernsey fishermen have been told the island won't agree to quotas.

Locals are currently banned from UK and EU waters as the UK pressures the island to observe limits on ray and skate catches.

Fishermen met with politicians last night and told ITV News that the government said it will do all it can to reverse the situation, but that it can't, and won't bring in quotas.

Dougal Lane from the Guernsey Fishermen's Association said fishermen left feeling reassured by what the government said.

Those fishermen affected by the ban will have to wait until the situation is resolved before they can fish outside of Guernsey waters.

Bailiwick fisherman are meeting with the government tonight.

The private meeting is to discuss the ban from fishing in UK and EU waters.

It follows the shock announcement by the UK government last week, seemingly because of a row over quota limits.

Guernsey says it will not consider introducing fishing quotas.

That's despite the UK suspending the Fisheries Management Agreement, which stops some island fishermen from using UK and EU waters.

It is thought that is because the Bailiwick won't apply UK quotas.

The Commerce and Employment Minister says quotas would 'decimate' the industry in the island.

Fisherman have told ITV News that they agree that quotas would not be good for the island.

Guernsey's Commerce and Employment Minister says they won't be taking immediate action on the UK's fishing ban.

This week the UK suspended the Fisheries Management Agreement between the UK and the Bailiwick, as well as the reciprocal UK licences held by Bailiwick fishermen.

Deputy Kevin Stewart says they still haven't had the details of the ban, despite them coming into action today.

He says the decision is 'very serious' for some fisherman and that the government must consider all options before taking any action.

Jersey’s Minister for Commerce and Employment says the UK's decision to ban Bailiwick fishermen from UK and EU waters is “irrational”.

Deputy Kevin Stewart also says the statement given by The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)was “inaccurate”. He says there are no reference to fishing quotas in the Fisheries Monitoring and Analysis (FMA).

It is thought the ban is due to Guernsey's policy not to apply UK quota controls in local waters.

Although DEFRA say they have been in discussion with Guernsey about the matter since March, Deputy Stewart says the States had “absolutely no notice” that the ban would be given.

The UK department who have forced a ban on Bailiwick fishermen entering UK and EU waters say they have been forced to do so as a last resort.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) says Guernsey have not been honouring the agreement they signed, and are refusing to comply with the Common Fisheries Policy rules.

They say they have been working with Guernsey’s government since March on the issue.

When the ruling was announced this morning though, Commerce and Employment Minister Deputy Kevin Stewart said the decision had come completely “out of the blue”.

Defra says they hope banning Guernsey fishermen is a “temporary measure”.

Fishermen in Guernsey say they know very little about today's shock announcement, banning them from fishing in UK and EU waters.

The UK announced this morning, that it is to suspend a reciprocal agreement between fishermen there and the those in the Bailiwick from 1st August.

It is thought it is because of Guernsey's policy not to apply UK quota controls in local waters.

Commerce and Employment say the decision came "out of the blue" and fishermen say they are in the dark too.

The decision to ban Bailiwick fishermen from UK and EU waters will affect a maximum of 10 boats.

Two main boats are said to regularly travel to UK waters to fish. Five to ten boats enter the waters on a more occasional basis. Fishermen have today said it is early days and they do not know too much as of yet.

Commerce and Employment the say the Sea Fisheries team have contacted all those affected. A briefing for the Bailiwick wide fishing industry is being organised for next week.