French and Jersey Fishermen Rebuild Dialogue After Brexit

The Government of Jersey has announced the extension of the fisheries support scheme to the end of the year

French and Jersey fishermen have met for the first time since Brexit, marking a new chapter of dialogue and cooperation for all

Historic Meeting Re-establishes Cross-Channel Cooperation

September 22, 2025, marked a landmark moment for Channel fishing communities as, for the first time since Brexit, fishermen and community representatives from Jersey, Normandy, and Brittany came together to re-establish dialogue and cooperation.

Although poor weather forced the meeting to take place virtually via video link rather than in person, the significance was clear. Ten representatives from Normandy and Brittany met with nine representatives from Jersey to address shared challenges and begin a new era of bottom-up collaboration.

Addressing Shared Challenges

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) within Jersey’s Marine Spatial Plan (MSP) were a central topic of discussion. The proposed closures of historic fishing areas will impact approximately forty vessels from Jersey, Normandy, and Brittany, but delegates stressed that the knock-on effects would be far wider.

Displacement of vessels could “ripple across all Jersey fleets and affect many more French boats, with serious consequences for fishing communities, supply chains, and safety at sea”.

Delegates also highlighted the post-Brexit classification of Jersey waters as a ‘third country’, which prevents Jersey fishermen from landing key species such as whelks and scallops into France.

French representatives agreed the situation was “unfair to Jersey” and warned it could pose risks for their fleets too if unresolved.

“Fishermen on both sides of the water are saying the same thing: we haven’t been listened to,” said the representatives. “This meeting was about making sure our voices are heard – and heard together”.

A New Chapter of Optimism

Despite these concerns, the tone of the meeting was overwhelmingly constructive.

Both Jersey and French representatives agreed that this first step had opened the door to rebuilding what was once a strong and cooperative relationship.

Jersey’s fishing community will next host their French counterparts on the Island in October, a visit that is expected to strengthen ties further.

All participants expressed optimism that the meeting marked the “beginning of a new chapter built on mutual respect, collaboration, and a shared commitment to safeguarding the future of their fishing communities”.