A further nine French vessels will receive permanent Jersey fishing licences, following the receipt of additional data.
All nine vessels were in the ‘temporary’ licensing category, where their access to Jersey waters would end on 31st January 2022 unless further data was provided.
The Minister for Environment, Deputy John Young, said: “These nine vessels were in the ‘temporary’ licensing category – where some limited data had been provided but did not meet the threshold required to receive a permanent licence. Following the receipt of further data, I am now in a position to grant these vessels permanent licences according to the evidence requirements under the TCA. This brings the total number of permanent licenses issued to French vessels to 125.
“We have always been clear that this process is based purely on data and evidence. The ‘temporary’ category has provided more time for vessels to supply the necessary evidence to obtain a permanent licence – a process that has proven worthwhile with these nine additional vessels.
“All other vessels in the ‘temporary’ category have until the 31st January 2022 to do so – otherwise their licence to fish in Jersey waters will end on this date. However, we will continue to consider evidence or new applications after the 31st January – our door is not closing entirely on this date”.
The Minister for External Relations, Senator Ian Gorst, said: “There have been a series of productive discussions held with colleagues in the UK, France and the European Union over the last three weeks, and particularly in the last few days. We greatly appreciate the receipt of additional data, which allows the Minister for Environment to grant permanent licences to those vessels who qualify. We continue to welcome more data in respect of any French vessel which does not already have a permanent licence.”
