French fishing boats protest at the port of St Helier, in dispute over access to waters around the island.

Charley Adams
BBC News Online

French fishing vessels are heading away from the St Helier Harbour after talks with officials over a fishing dispute.

This morning a fleet of about 60 French and Jersey boats gathered to protest over post-Brexit fishing rights.

French fishermen say their rights in Jersey waters are being unfairly restricted by licenses issued by the island.

Jersey politicians spoke with French fishermen in St Helier Harbour to discuss their concerns.

The French fishing boats are now heading east away from the harbour.

We are finishing our live coverage, but you can keep up to date with the story here.

Amy Gladwell
BBC News Online

The departure of Jersey's freight ship Commodore Goodwill was delayed by more than four hours due to the fishing protests, operator Condor ferries has said, but insists "disruption was minimal".

Elwyn Dop, Condor Ferries’ Operations Director, said: ‘Due to the disruption this morning in St Helier, Jersey, the departure of our freight ship, Commodore Goodwill, had to be delayed until safe passage could be arranged.

"She arrived in Jersey at 04:30, discharged her cargo as usual before leaving for Guernsey at 11:15, just over four hours behind schedule."

Timings for Thursday and Friday have therefore been revised to accommodate the delay, the company said.

Mr Dop added: "Disruption was minimal with no impact on the freight supply chain, which brings in 95% of the essential food, medical and other goods into the Channel Islands."

Condor's freight and passenger vessel, Commodore Clipper, is expected to operate to Jersey this afternoon from Portsmouth and Guernsey as normal.

Freddie Miller
BBC Jersey political reporter

Talks between French fishermen and Jersey politicians have concluded.

French fishing boats are now heading east, away from St Helier Harbour.

Two Royal Navy ships and two French boats are nearby, with the row over post-Brexit rights ongoing.

Jean Mackenzie
Europe correspondent

A French fisherman says he is protesting because he cannot fish "normally" under new rules.

Romain Davodet said there were "too many" restrictions to fish in Jersey waters at the moment.

He told the BBC there were not enough fishing days or enough areas available to fish "normally".

This morning, he and dozens of French fishing vessels came to Jersey to protest.

Mr Davodet, who has fished in Jersey waters for 15 years, said he recognised it was "difficult" but was hopeful he would get a fishing license in the next few months.

Talks between Jersey politicians and French fishermen who have threatened to blockade the island's main port in a row over post-Brexit fishing rights are under way.

About 50 French boats gathered near the island this morning with some entering St Helier Harbour.

France has sent two patrol boats to Jersey's waters and two British Navy ships are also in the area.

The Prime Minister has reiterated his "unequivocal support" for Jersey amid the fishing dispute with French fishermen.

Speaking with island officials, Boris Johnson also confirmed the two Royal Navy ships currently in Jersey waters would remain to "monitor the situation as a precautionary measure”.

The Prime Minister spoke with Jersey's Chief Minister Senator John Le Fondré, the Deputy Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham and the Minister of External Relations Ian Gorst on Thursday morning.

A Downing Street spokesperson said “They agreed to stay in touch as the situation develops.”

Concerns a similar fishing dispute could occur in Guernsey have been expressed by a representative of the local fishing industry.

The vice president of Guernsey Fisherman's Association, Dougal Lane, said the French extended the limits they were allowed to fish from their shores from 30km (19 miles) to 50km (31 miles) in 2020.

He explained under Guernsey's upcoming fishing licencing scheme French fisherman "might be expecting to come into our waters" but could be prevented from doing so.

"There might well be problems," Mr Lane added.

The States of Guernsey is currently in the process of setting up its own licensing scheme.

BBC Radio Jersey

The States believes about 50 French boats sailed into St Helier Harbour before gathering off Elizabeth Castle, where they prevented the Commodore Goodwill from leaving.

It finally sailed, four hours late.

A French patrol boat is off the south-east coast of Jersey and another is heading towards the island.

Two Royal Navy boats have been off the south-west coast of Jersey since early this morning.

The maritime prefecture of Manche and mer du Nord told the BBC the two French vessels were on a public service mission to ensure safety.

Ian Gorst, Jersey's minister of external affairs, says he will listen to the concerns of French fishing crews.

Jersey fishermen are "very angry" government officials have met French fishermen to negotiate the fishing dispute, the president of Jersey Fishermen's Association has said.

Don Thompson said the island's fishing community was frustrated "their own government considers it appropriate to go out and have negotiations on board a boat with a French fisherman".

He said the threats by a French minister to cut off the island's electricity had to be "taken very seriously".

About 60 French and Jersey boats have been protesting in island waters over post-Brexit fishing rights.

"Jersey fishermen are standing united against this sort of threat and intimidation, that is very clear," added Mr Thompson.

He said a ship carrying food to the island was also trapped in the port because of the protest.

Freddie Miller
BBC Jersey political reporter

The Commodore Goodwill - the cargo ship scheduled to leave at 07:00 - is on its way out of St Helier Harbour.

The politician in charge of Guernsey's external affairs said he is "confident" the island will not get caught up in the ongoing fishing dispute.

The States of Guernsey is currently in the process of granting French boats licences after delaying the introduction of a system until at least the end of May, external.

Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq said Guernsey's relationship with France is currently "the best they've ever been".

He said the States was in regular contact with Normandy politicians on fishing and other issues.

"At the moment, I am confident that they differentiate between [Guernsey and Jersey]", the External Affairs Minister said.

Representatives from Jersey's government and leaders within the French fishing industry are meeting this morning to "resolve" the fishing dispute.

Dozens of French fishing boats have gathered in Jersey waters in response to a row over post-Brexit fishing rights.

At 10:30 BST government officials including the assistant minister for the environment met French fishermen following a request for their concerns to be heard directly.

Deputy Gregory Guida alongside other island officials will be on the Norman Le Brocq Fisheries boat and French fishermen will be in the harbour with their boats alongside, abiding by coronavirus rules.

Minister for external relations, Senator Ian Gorst said they would be meeting French fishing leaders to "resolve the current dispute and resume previous good relations".

Emergency services are continuing to assess and monitor the situation.

An Elysée spokesman said France was monitoring the situation "very closely", adding that it is "currently calm and we hope that this will remain the case".

"We want to be able to return to negotiations, that we can obtain the fishing licenses provided for in the agreement."

BBC Radio Jersey

The decision by the UK to send naval boats to Jersey in response to the fishing dispute is not an overreaction, says a politician from the island.

Senator Ian Gorst said they had to take threats by the French "seriously".

He said a minister in Paris had threatened "to cut off" the island's electricity.

"We have to take such threats seriously and respond appropriately," he told BBC Radio Jersey.

HMS Severn and HMS Tamar are off the south coast of Jersey.

The sight of dozens of French fishing vessels approaching St Helier Harbour firing flares into the sky has been described by one Jersey fisherman as looking “like an invasion”.

Earlier, about 60 boats gathered at the port of St Helier.

Jersey fisherman Josh Dearing, 28, said French vessels had first gathered from about 04.30 outside the harbour, before moving into the harbour after 06:00 and retreating shortly after 07:00.

He said the fleet was mostly made up of “big French dredgers and trawlers”, each about 40ft (12m) long.

The BBC's Robert Hall reports from St Helier port, where he says there are about 60-70 vessels.