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Brexit and its aftermath: these French fishermen have set off with their boats on the island of Jersey.
They want to protest in the port of Saint Helier because they feel disadvantaged by the new regulations after Brexit.
The organization of commercial fishing is an issue that is as important as it is controversial on both sides of the English Channel.
After everything remained calm at the beginning of the year, the anger is now increasing, especially among French professional fishermen.
Laurent Blondel, French fisherman:
“We are not happy with the restrictions they have placed on us. We should have been given licenses to fish how we want, with no restrictions on what species. But some boats will only be allowed to catch one species of fish, up from three or four before. It's not what was agreed. We are here to find a solution. And we really hope that will be sorted out. "
The fishermen's destination is also the scene of a Brexit dispute between France and Great Britain: the island of Jersey in the English Channel.
It is located a good 20 kilometers off the coast of France, is subordinate to the British Crown, but not part of Great Britain.
That is why Jersey issues its own fishing licenses for its waters - and French fishermen consider these to be inadmissible.
Without further ado, the fishermen took the problem into their own hands - and set off with their boats to the port of the capital of Jersey, Saint Helier.
There they apparently even blocked a British ferry for a short time.
Laurent Blondel, French fisherman:
“Better we make our voice heard directly with the Jersey authorities, with the Jersey delegation. We have a meeting with a minister to explain ourselves to various port officials such as Carteret and Granville, but also in Brittany. "
The fishing dispute threatens to escalate: The French Minister of the Sea indicated that Jersey's electricity supply could be cut off via submarine cables.
The British government, in turn, had moved two military ships to Jersey in response to the approaching fishing boats.
A precautionary measure to prevent a blockade of the island, it said from London.
France then also sent two naval ships to the area.
London is rejecting responsibility for fishing licenses. The EU Commission agreed with the French side: from their point of view, London had violated the Brexit trade pact. Talks with the United Kingdom will continue, however.
