France will not issue a new crab fishing licence off the coast of Newfoundland without engaging in formal discussions with Canada, according to France's ambassador to Canada. This clarification follows a reported promise made by French President Emmanuel Macron to grant an exploratory snow crab licence to a company in Saint-Pierre-and-Miquelon, a French archipelago located off Newfoundland's southeast coast.
Canadian Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson has confirmed that no such licence has been issued. She stated that any matters concerning licensing would be addressed through established diplomatic channels, and no such talks have occurred. This situation has arisen following Prime Minister Mark Carney's recent visit to Saint-Pierre-and-Miquelon, during which Macron's alleged pledge was reported.
The dispute over fishing rights and continental shelf claims in this region has a long history between Canada and France. Both nations have submitted claims to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf. Canada maintains that the area in question falls within its extended continental shelf and does not support foreign fishing operations there. The French assertion of fishing rights in the area stems from historical treaties and the economic importance of fishing to the communities of Saint-Pierre-and-Miquelon.
