Since the beginning of the year, Britain and France have been at odds about post-Brexit fishing licences for UK seas. The talks are still ongoing, but both parties have threatened to take action — and mistranslations haven’t helped matters. If they obtain a discretionary permit issued by Britain, French fishermen may continue to fish between six and 12 miles off the UK shore and off Guernsey and Jersey until 2026 under the Brexit trade and cooperation agreement (TCA).
They must have fished in those waters between 2012 and 2016 to be granted that licence, but the two governments dispute on the documentation required for past activity and how much of it should be required.
France says that for the six-to-12-mile zone and off Guernsey and Jersey, 210 licences have so far been granted whereas it requested 454. Authorities say only about 20 of Boulogne’s 112-strong fleet are permitted to fish in that zone.
The UK says it has granted about 1,700 licences, or 98% of EU applications. But that figure includes licences to fish in Britain’s exclusive economic zone between 12 and 200 miles from the coast, which were automatic under the terms of the TCA.
France says the rules imposed by the UK, Jersey and Guernsey are unfair to smaller boats, which typically do not have the GPS equipment to prove past presence in UK waters. Britain says it is entitled to ask for the evidence it wants.