Britain sends Royal Navy patrol ships to monitor planned Jersey blockade by France

Vergennes · May 5, 2021

The UK on Wednesday evening ordered two Royal Navy patrol vessels to head to the waters around Jersey as ministers scrambled to defuse a post-Brexit row which threatened to result in a blockade of the island.

The French government has accused Jersey of unfairly blocking French fishermen from accessing its waters following the implementation of a new regulatory regime which came into force last week. The country’s maritime minister said Jersey’s electricity supply could be cut off if the dispute is not resolved.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has spoken to his French counterpart to try and defuse the situation, while Prime Minister Boris Johnson held a call with Jersey’s chief minister in which he pledged his backing for the island.

A No 10 spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister underlined his unwavering support for Jersey. He said that any blockade would be completely unjustified. As a precautionary measure the UK will be sending two Offshore Patrol Vessels to monitor the situation.”

The row came after the island implemented new requirements under the terms of the UK-EU trade deal for boats to submit evidence of their past fishing activities in order to receive a licence to carry on operating in Jersey waters.

Jersey receives 95 per cent of its electricity from France through three undersea cables.

French maritime minister Annick Girardin told the French parliament that it gave Paris the “means” to act against the island if the issue could not be resolved.

She said: “Even though I am sorry that it has come to this, we will do so if we have to.”

Jersey’s minister of external affairs Ian Gorst said the island was not seeking to bar boats which had historically fished in Jersey waters and insisted the dispute could be resolved amicably.

He said Jersey was now seeking permission from London and Brussels to speak directly with the French fishermen concerned to resolve the issue.