Chief Minister Howard Quayle says the Isle of Man has nothing to fear from the territorial waters row between Jersey and the UK.

The Isle of Man accepted the same type of ’permissive extent clause’ from the UK that is now causing a constitutional row between Jersey and Westminster.

The Jersey Government has raised concerns that the UK might be seeking to take control of its territorial waters through the inclusion of such a ’permissive extent clause’ in its Fisheries Bill - something the Jersey Government says it would fight - as part of its battle with the EU over fishing rights post-Brexit.

Questioned about this in Tynwald, Mr Quayle said: ’I am well aware of the concerns that Jersey, especially, have.’

But the fisheries row was not a concern for the Isle of Man, he said.

’This is a concern for Jersey and Guernsey, who catch their fish and then land them in French ports and they had a deal with the French on their own to do this,’ he said.

’The European Union are saying you have got to allow all of the European Union to come into your waters, you cannot have a sweetheart deal for one jurisdiction.

’We have precious few European boats that come into our waters. They tend to be seasonal - I think we have got French, Belgian and Irish boats in our waters - but it is something we are happy to work with the UK on, whereas Jersey and Guernsey are in a totally different position to the Isle of Man with its fisheries and therefore we are content with the situation as it stands, from an Isle of Man point of view.’

He said the Isle of Man had asked the UK to carry out the negotiations with the EU on fisheries management.

Responding to a question about who will protect Manx waters if it becomes an issue, he said: ’It may well be that we will be offered the protection of the British fleet. Equally, given that a small number of European boats have historically fished in our waters it may not be a problem.’

He pledged to give a more detailed answer to members in writing.

Permissive extent clauses are only included in UK legislation with the Isle of Man’s permission, he said, and it was given on the fisheries side about a year ago.

The issue arose as Mr Quayle gave an update on the UK-EU Brexit negotiations.

With yet another Boris Johnson deadline for reaching a deal missed, the prospect of a no-deal Brexit appears to loom larger than ever.

Mr Quayle said: ’As well as the things that individuals and businesses may need to do, government is reappraising the work that we did on contingency planning in preparation for no-deal last year.

’There is the additional complication with Covid-19 re-emerging in many UK regions and across the EU more widely. However our focus remains to ensure we have a high degree of readiness in respect of key impact areas including medicines and medical supplies, food supply, energy and fuel.

’I can assure members that the degree of assurance that we currently have is high.’

Work will continue to refine plans and to test assumptions.

’We know we have managed to safeguard free movement of goods between the island and the United Kingdom but when the final shape of a deal becomes clearer, the Council of Ministers will need to determine whether what we end up with is in the best interests of the island.’

He added: ’We must prepare for every eventuality.’

The Manx Government will launch a new information campaign offering guidance. Information is already available at www.gov.im/brexit