Queen donates beaches to Jersey

Ownership of beaches below the high tide mark will be transferred to Jersey States

The Queen has given Jersey ownership of much of the beaches and the seabed around the island.

She has owned the land on Jersey's beaches up to the spring high tide mark and 12 miles out to sea.

That will now go to the States which wants to lease the space for wave and tidal energy schemes.

The Queen's representative on the island said she wanted to "support the interests and aspirations" of islanders.

Reefs of the Ecréhous and the Minquiers above highest spring tides will remain in Crown ownership.

Prospects for tidal energy are being investigated by Jersey States

The move completes a series of foreshore transfers to the island since the 1950s including many fortifications built during the German occupation of the island in World War Two.

Chief Minister Ian Gorst said: "This is an historic development for the island and is testament to our strong relationship with the Crown.

"It is important for Jersey to have ownership of its seabed and foreshore, and I would like to express my gratitude on behalf of the public of Jersey for this decision."

He added that the transfer would "not affect our enjoyment of Jersey's beaches and coastal waters".

Lieutenant Governor, Gen Sir John McColl, who represents the Queen, said: "The government of Jersey has expressed a view that ownership of the seabed and foreshore would assist effective management and economic development, particularly in the area of renewable energy projects."

The legal arrangements for gifting the seabed and the foreshore to the people of Jersey from the Crown are being finalised.

In the UK where the Crown Estate owns the seabed 12 miles from the shore, wind and tidal energy firms pay it rent to run their cables from the turbines to the shore.

In 2013-14 the Crown Estate, from which the Queen is paid, made £14.3m from cables and pipelines that cross its land, according to its accounts.