26 June 2014
The man in charge of the Department of the Environment’s Marine Resources section has been awarded a French national award for services to the marine community.
Deputy Director Marine Resources, Department of the Environment, Mike Smith was closely involved in the development of the Granville Bay Fisheries Agreement between the UK and France in 2000, and has worked closely with fishermen to help manage marine resources.
The Granville Bay Fisheries Agreement was negotiated and put in place with fishermen and government officials from France and Jersey. It aimed to ensure appropriate access to, and the management of fishing for the benefit of everyone involved.
The French have acknowledged Mr Smith’s collaborative, diplomatic and interpersonal skills in the way he has worked on developing legislation, managed its enforcement and helped manage marine resources.
The Ordre du Mérite Maritime medal was presented to Mike Smith by the Directeur départemental adjoint des territoires et de la mer de l'Ille-et-Vilaine, Délégué à la Mer et au Littoral (St Malo), Benoit Faist.
Mr Smith joined the Royal Navy in 1972 and served in Northern Ireland and the Falklands. He was appointed as a British Sea Fisheries Officer in 1982. On return to Jersey he worked as a police officer, and joined the Agriculture and Fisheries Department (now Department of the Environment) in 1989 as Senior Fisheries Inspector.
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