EXCLUSIVE: Jersey fisherman is threatened by mob when he tried to deliver £4,000 of Cuttlefish to French port forcing him to dump haul into sea
- Jason Bonhomme was threatened as he landed at Carteret at around 4.30pm
- He says a mob abused him as he tried to climb up a ladder on the sea wall
- He was forced to leave without making the delivery and dump the fish
A Jersey fisherman was threatened by a mob when he tried to deliver his haul to a French business this afternoon.
Jason Bonhomme was physically threatened as he landed in the French port of Carteret with his half tonne of Cuttlefish.
As he berthed along the sea wall and tried to climb up a ladder, a mob abused and threatened him, forcing him to leave with the £4,000 consignment.
Jason Bonhomme was physically threatened as he landed in the French port of Carteret with his half tonne of Cuttlefish
A Jersey fisherman was threatened by a mob when he tried to deliver his haul to a French business this afternoon. Pictured: French fishermen stage a protest near Jersey today
Don Thompson, President of the Jersey Fisherman’s Association told MailOnline: ‘He was basically led to believe this would be his last day on earth if he didn’t turn back.
‘He was climbing up the ladder to begin delivering his order to a French business when the mob stopped him.
‘This incident has just happened at Carteret at around 4.30pm. Jason, who has known many of these French fisherman for years, was forced to leave without making his delivery.
‘He had filled in all the online forms, duplicated them as is required and submitted them to all the relevant authorities and he still could not carry on his business.
‘He will be dumping the fish as a dead load at sea now. There are few things worse to a fisherman than having to do that.’
Mr Thompson said the blockade of the Jersey port earlier today by French boats and the blockade at French ports, was a disturbing development.
Don Thompson (pictured), President of the Jersey Fisherman’s Association, said the incident happened at Carteret at around 4.30pm
‘It is a desperate situation right now. The French have had an amnesty after January 1st to carry on fishing in British waters here and they have doubled the size of the number of boats.
‘We have seen them leaving with tonnes and tonnes of scallops. Their boats have been everywhere on our waters.’
Mr Bonhomme was unharmed and he was able to leave safely on his 30ft boat J69 Soixante Neuf and without any damage to it.
Mr Thompson added: ‘The French have been allowed to carry on fishing on our waters. It is a very difficult period for us all.
‘If we try and take fish there, we have to be spot on with the forms. Even one word spelt wrongly leads to hold ups from the French administration’The blockade at Jersey port has been eased, but we are not sure if they will try and return and do the same tomorrow.’