France sends two patrol boats to Jersey as fishing row with Britain deepens
- The UK and French navies dispatched patrol vessels to the island of Jersey amid a deepening spat over post-Brexit fishing rights
- Earlier, a protest flotilla of about four dozen French trawlers sailed to Jersey’s main harbour and demanded a meeting with officials
The European Commission called for calm over the dispute, which on Thursday also saw a protest flotilla of about four dozen French trawlers sail to Jersey’s main harbour and demand a meeting with island officials.
A French minister threatened to cut off electricity supplies to Jersey if the fishing restrictions were not lifted, prompting Britain’s government to express its “unwavering support” for Jersey and send the two naval vessels.
UK sends in navy ships over fears of French blockade in post-Brexit dispute
“We won’t be intimidated by these manoeuvres,” French Europe Minister Clement Beaune said.
The French navy said on Thursday the two patrol vessels had been deployed on the orders of the French civil authorities. It did not give details of what they would be doing in the waters off Jersey.
An official from the French presidential administration said the deployment of the French boats “speaks to our concern, and frustration, and is an appeal, which we will also express, for the correct application of agreements,” sealed when Britain left the EU.
Ship-tracking website marinetraffic.com showed one of the two French vessels, Athos, located around 20km southeast of Jersey.
It was at least 20km away from the two British naval vessels, the HMS Severn and HMS Tamar, which were on the south-western side of the island.
Earlier, a fleet of about 50 fishing boats left the shores of Jersey in the early afternoon. They had arrived at dawn, with some crew holding red flares aloft.
At least one of the French trawlers entered the harbour and briefly positioned itself in front of the Commodore Goodwill, a cargo vessel and ferry that connects the Channel islands to the British mainland.
