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2.13 Senator L. Norman of the Minister for Economic Development regarding the resolution of the fishing dispute with Guernsey:
Would the Minister inform the Assembly if he has made any progress on the resolution of the fishing dispute with Guernsey?
Senator P.F.C. Ozouf (The Minister for Economic Development):
Arrangements, as Members will recall, were made to meet with Guernsey on 29th October to discuss a management agreement between Jersey and Guernsey. Unfortunately Guernsey called off this meeting, replying to me in a letter saying that Guernsey is not in a position to have any
substantive discussions or any meaningful preliminary discussions with Jersey at the present time. I replied offering a further 4 dates on which I could meet my counterpart before Christmas. I received a reply dated 13th November, again declining to meet and suggesting that it would not be before the end of the first quarter of 2008 that we would meet. I have to say to Members that I am concerned about this. We want to talk and we want to find an agreement. While Jersey fishermen's rights in Guernsey waters are currently protected, it is unsatisfactory that there is a free
for all. What I can say to the Assembly is that my understanding is that the Chief Minister met the Minister of State at the Department of Justice yesterday and got an undertaking that Her Majesty's Government will not conclude an agreement with Guernsey until the interests of our fishermen and others are protected.