Territorial Waters for Lord Seigneurs of Fiefs of Guernsey

Guernsey is a self-governing dependency of the Crown  with its own directly elected legislative assembly, its own administrative, fiscal, feudal, and legal systems, and its own courts of law.

Guernsey, a British Crown Dependency located in the English Channel, has control over its fishing rights within its territorial waters. The extent of Guernsey's territorial waters is determined by international law and extends up to 12 nautical miles (approximately 13.8 regular miles or 22.2 kilometers) from its coastline. Within this zone, Guernsey has sovereignty and control over fisheries management and regulations. 

Citation: https://www.jerseylaw.je/publications/jglr/Pages/JLR1006_Falle.aspx    

However, through cases like La Paz Holdings, the foreshore, fishing rights, and territorial waters in front of the foreshore belong to the Seigneur or Dame who has feudal and manorial rights to the beach, treasure, fish, seaweed and waters.

There are roughly 24 private fiefs on the Island. Based on the existing maps, there may only be 10-15 fiefs that actually have sovereign foreshore and beach territory exposed to the ocean and Fief Thomas Blondel is one of them.

The   Bailiwick of Guernsey   (French  :   Bailliage de Guernesey  ; Guernésiais  :   Bailliage dé Guernési  ) is a self-governing British Crown Dependency   off the coast of Normandy  , France, comprising several of the Channel Islands  . It has a total land area of 78 square kilometres (30 sq mi) and an estimated total population of 67,334.

The Fiefs of Guernsey are co-equal with the Crown or King Charles on the land holdings.  The Crown Estate   is a collection of lands and holdings in the United Kingdom   belonging to the British monarch   as a corporation sole  , making it "the sovereign's public estate", which is neither government property nor part of the monarch's private estate.  ^{[2]  [3]  [4]  [5]} 

Wikipedia articles say that: The sovereign   has an official, but not personal claim to the estate, is not involved with the management or administration of the estate, and has no control of its affairs. For all practical purposes it is state property,  ^[7]  and in part funds the monarchy. With this statement said, then the fief owners are sole owners of the foreshore and territorial waters as the Crown may have abandoned the rights.

While Guernsey claims 12 miles, the Seigneur of Fief Thomas Blondel claims 200 miles from 3 different foreshore areas in Guernsey. Beyond the 12-mile limit, Guernsey's fishing rights are subject to international agreements and negotiations with neighboring countries, primarily France, as well as the European Union. These agreements govern access to fishing grounds and the allocation of quotas for various fish species. The specifics of these agreements can change over time and may vary depending on the political and economic circumstances.  Since, Fief Blondel was not a part of any of these territorial waters, seabed, seasted, island, and reef/rocks agreements, the owner of these foreshores and waters maintains independent and sovereign rights over any and all lands, rocks, reefs, seabed, fishing, oil and gas, minerals, port, and marina rights related to such territory.

The Crown Estate plays a major role in the development of the offshore wind energy industry in the UK. Other commercial activity managed by the Crown Estate on the seabed includes wave and tidal energy, carbon capture and storage  , aggregates, submarine cables and pipelines and the mining of potash  . In terms of the foreshore, the Crown Estate issue licences or leases for around 850 aquaculture sites and owns marina space for approximately 18,000 moorings. As of 2020  , marine holdings had a value of £4.1 billion.  ^[77]

The seigneurs of fiefs in Guernsey historically held certain fishing rights associated with their fiefdoms. A fief is a piece of land in Guernsey that is subject to feudal tenure, and the Seigneur or Dame is the feudal lord who historically held authority over the land and its resources, including fishing rights. These rights go back over 1000 years.

These fishing rights varied from fief to fief and were typically inherited or granted as part of the feudal system. The rights could include the privilege to fish in specific areas or to collect certain types of seafood, such as oysters or seaweed, within the boundaries of the fief. These days, the rights may extend to the seabed out 12-200 miles with regard to off shore rigs and oil exploration.  https://gov.gg/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=3857&p=0 

In some legal instances,  The Guernsey Government had to pay people with rights to the foreshore and business that would be damaged for loss of earnings. Along the southern shores of the Braye du Valle had been salt pans, their owners receiving compensation for their loss.  ^[1]  The saltpan businesses receiving £1,750, with the other owners being paid £1,500. In total £3,250 was paid out.  ^[5]

With the Crown Islands - The fiefs own the seabed below high water mark to the 12-mile limit and also owns minerals and petroleum (the property in all minerals existing in natural condition; all mines for the working of such minerals; and all petroleum existing in natural condition) on, in or under the sea bed beneath the extended territorial sea and retains the rights to coal in the territorial sea. 

When the foreshore was gifted to the public, many lawyers specified that parts of the foreshore are subject to fiefs and owned by the Private Lord Seigneurs and therefore the whole of the foreshore is not owned by the public as the Crown cannot give what is not theirs to give.  submission - julian mallinson initial submission - foreshore encroachment policy review - 16 april 2019.pdf (gov.je) 

Similarly, in the 1953 case at the International Court of Justice over the Minquiers and Écréhous groups in the Channel Islands, the court rejected a French claim based on historic presence and fishing rights that is remarkably similar to Chinese historic claims in the South China Sea. Instead, the court awarded the features to England based on subsequent exercise of jurisdiction over them by the Manorial court of the fief. Territorial and Law of the Sea Disputes | Center for International Maritime Security | Page 10 (cimsec.org) 

1. https://statesassembly.gov.je/scrutinyreviewsubmissions/submission%20-%20r%20falle%20-%20foreshore%20encroachment%20policy%20review%20-%207%20january%202021.pdf  
2. Report - Foreshore Encroachment Policy Review - 14 January 2021.pdf (gov.je) 
3. https://jerseyeveningpost.com/news/2015/05/28/queens-foreshore-gift-could-cost-islanders-millions-warns-advocate/  
4. Jersey & Guernsey Law Review – June 2008 THE CUSTOMARY LAW about THE FORESHORE (1)"     (PDF)  . Retrieved 21 June 2023  . 
5. Queen's foreshore gift could cost Islanders millions, warns advocate - Jersey Evening Post 
6. S.O.U.L. (udallaw.com) & The Case for Udal Law. 
7. International Law Relating to Islands | Brill 
8. The Sovereignty of the Sea, by Thomas Wemyss Fulton.--a Project Gutenberg eBook 
9. ch-12-legislative-system.pdf (gov.im) Isle of Man
10. im_31CommLWorldRev368.pdf (uniset.ca) Is the Isle of Man an Independent Nation
11. An Historical Account of Guernsey, From Its First Settlement Before the ... - Thomas. Dicey - Google Books 
12. International Enclopedia of Comparative Law - Google Books 

Description of the Lords of The European Fief of Blondel and Eperons - Est. 1179

Commissioner George Mentz is the Seigneur of the Fief Blondel & Eperons of Normandy which is an 800 year old territory on the Norman Islands. From the great Viking Rollo to the present day of the rule of King Charles, these islands have allowed feudal law and courts on the fiefs and island shores. The Fief Blondel and Eperons and its Seigneur are registered directly with the Royal Courts of the Crown and The Duke of Normandy and King Charles. Much like the Seigneurs of Monaco, the lords of French Andorra, Sovereign Gozo of Malta, the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM), The Papal Monarch of the Vatican City, and The Lord of Sark, The ancient Fiefs in the Channel islands are recognized by both nobility law and international law. Commissioner Dr. George Mentz was elevated as the 26th Free Lord & Seigneur of Fief of Blondel et L'Epersons) on the island of (Dgèrnésiais - Guernsey French) in Dec. 2017. Mentz also registered the fief direct with the courts using the feudal legal system of Conge and Tresieme which is the official way to transfer a fief from one noble leader or peer to another owner. The Fief of Thom. Blondel is One of the Last Great Private Fiefs in Europe to be privately owned where the lord owns the Beaches, Water, Foreshores and Seasteds including international Waters. In other local cultures, the free-lord Seigneur is known as a Frhr. Friherre in Sweden, a Frhr. Vrijheer in Dutch, and a Frhr. Friherre in Denmark.

The Lords of Fief Blondel et Eperons appear to be older than the Seigneurs of Monaco as the Grimaldi family settled in Monaco in 1297 and Fief Blondel is also older than ancient Sheikhdom of Kuwait, Kingdom of Moscovy Russia 1362, Kingdom of Spain 1479, Kingdom of Bohemia, Kingdom of Belgium. Fief Blondel may also be older than the Ottoman Empire, Habsburg Empire, and the Kingdom of Lithuania.

French: Le commissaire George Mentz est le seigneur du fief Blondel & Eperons de Normandie, un territoire vieux de 800 ans situé sur les îles normandes. Du grand Viking Rollo jusqu'à l'époque actuelle du règne du roi Charles, ces îles ont permis l'application du droit féodal et des tribunaux sur les fiefs et les côtes des îles. Le fief Blondel et Eperons ainsi que son seigneur sont enregistrés directement auprès des Cours Royales de la Couronne, du Duc de Normandie et du Roi Charles. Tout comme les seigneurs de Monaco, les seigneurs de la France, Andorre, le Souverain Gozo de Malte, l'Ordre Souverain Militaire de Malte (SMOM), le Monarque Papal de la Cité du Vatican et le Seigneur de Sark, les anciens fiefs des îles de la Manche sont reconnus à la fois par le droit de la noblesse et par le droit international. Le commissaire George Mentz a été élevé au rang de 26ème Seigneur Libre et Seigneur du fief de Blondel et L'Epersons) sur l'île de (Dgèrnésiais - français de Guernesey) en décembre 2017. Mentz a également enregistré le fief directement auprès des tribunaux en utilisant le système juridique féodal de Conge et Tresieme, qui est la manière officielle de transférer un fief d'un noble leader ou pair à un autre propriétaire. Le fief de Thom. Blondel est l'un des derniers grands fiefs privés en Europe à être la propriété privée où le seigneur possède les plages, l'eau, les rivages et les estrades maritimes, y compris les eaux internationales. Dans d'autres cultures locales, le seigneur libre Seigneur est connu sous le nom de Frhr. Friherre en Suède, un Frhr. Vrijheer en néerlandais, et un Frhr. Friherre au Danemark. Les seigneurs du fief Blondel et Eperons semblent être plus anciens que les seigneurs de Monaco car la famille Grimaldi s'est installée à Monaco en 1297 et le fief Blondel est également plus ancien que l'ancien émirat du Koweït, le royaume de Moscovy Russie 1362, le royaume d'Espagne 1479, le royaume de Bohème, le royaume de Belgique. Le fief Blondel pourrait également être plus ancien que l'Empire ottoman, l'Empire des Habsbourg et le royaume de Lituanie.

German: Kommissar George Mentz ist der Seigneur des Fiefs Blondel & Eperons der Normandie, das ein 800 Jahre altes Territorium auf den Normanneninseln ist. Von dem großen Wikinger Rollo bis zur heutigen Zeit unter der Herrschaft von König Charles haben diese Inseln feudales Recht und Gerichte auf den Lehen und Inselküsten ermöglicht. Das Fief Blondel und Eperons sowie sein Seigneur sind direkt bei den Königlichen Gerichten der Krone, dem Herzog der Normandie und König Charles registriert. Ganz ähnlich wie die Seigneurs von Monaco, die Herren von Frankreich, Andorra, dem Souveränen Gozo von Malta, dem Souveränen Militärorden von Malta (SMOM), dem päpstlichen Monarchen des Vatikanstaats und dem Herrn von Sark werden die alten Lehen auf den Kanalinseln sowohl vom Adelsrecht als auch vom Völkerrecht anerkannt.  Kommissar Dr. George Mentz wurde im Dezember 2017 zum 26. Freien Herrn & Seigneur des Fiefs von Blondel et L'Epersons) auf der Insel (Dgèrnésiais - Guernsey French) erhoben. Mentz registrierte das Lehen auch direkt bei den Gerichten unter Verwendung des feudalen Rechtssystems von Conge und Tresieme, das die offizielle Art und Weise ist, ein Lehen von einem adligen Führer oder Peer auf einen anderen Eigentümer zu übertragen. Das Fief von Thom. Blondel ist eines der letzten großen privaten Lehens in Europa, das privat besessen ist, wo der Herr die Strände, das Wasser, die Küsten und die Meeresstädte einschließlich der internationalen Gewässer besitzt. In anderen lokalen Kulturen ist der freie Herr Seigneur als Frhr. Friherre in Schweden, ein Frhr. Vrijheer im Niederländischen und ein Frhr. Friherre in Dänemark bekannt. Die Herren des Fiefs Blondel et Eperons scheinen älter zu sein als die Seigneurs von Monaco, da sich die Familie Grimaldi 1297 in Monaco niederließ und das Fief Blondel auch älter ist als das alte Scheichtum Kuwait, das Königreich Moscovy Russland 1362, das Königreich Spanien 1479, das Königreich Böhmen, das Königreich Belgien. Das Fief Blondel könnte auch älter sein als das Osmanische Reich, das Habsburgerreich und das Königreich Litauen.

Italian: Il commissario George Mentz è il signore del Feudo Blondel & Eperons della Normandia, un territorio di 800 anni situato nelle isole normanne. Dal grande vichingo Rollo ai giorni nostri sotto il regno di Re Carlo, queste isole hanno permesso l'applicazione della legge feudale e dei tribunali sui feudi e sulle coste delle isole. Il Feudo Blondel ed Eperons e il suo signore sono registrati direttamente presso i Tribunali Reali della Corona, il Duca di Normandia e Re Carlo. Molto simili ai signori di Monaco, i signori della Francia, Andorra, il Sovrano Gozo di Malta, il Sovrano Militare Ordine di Malta (SMOM), il Monarca Papale della Città del Vaticano e il Signore di Sark, gli antichi Feudi delle isole del Canale sono riconosciuti sia dalla legge nobiliare che dal diritto internazionale. Il commissario Dr. George Mentz è stato elevato al rango di 26° Signore Libero & Signore del Feudo di Blondel et L'Epersons) nell'isola di (Dgèrnésiais - Guernsey French) nel dicembre 2017. Mentz ha anche registrato il feudo direttamente presso i tribunali utilizzando il sistema giuridico feudale di Conge e Tresieme, che è il modo ufficiale per trasferire un feudo da un nobile leader o pari a un altro proprietario. Il Feudo di Thom. Blondel è uno degli ultimi grandi feudi privati in Europa a essere di proprietà privata, dove il signore possiede le spiagge, l'acqua, le rive e le città marittime, comprese le acque internazionali. In altre culture locali, il Signore libero Seigneur è conosciuto come Frhr. Friherre in Svezia, un Frhr. Vrijheer in olandese e un Frhr. Friherre in Danimarca. I Signori del Feudo Blondel et Eperons sembrano essere più antichi dei Signori di Monaco, poiché la famiglia Grimaldi si stabilì a Monaco nel 1297 e il Feudo Blondel è anche più antico dell'antico sceicco del Kuwait, del Regno di Moscovia Russia 1362, del Regno di Spagna 1479, del Regno di Boemia, del Regno del Belgio. Il Feudo Blondel potrebbe anche essere più antico dell'Impero Ottomano, dell'Impero degli Asburgo e del Regno di Lituania.

Spanish: El comisionado George Mentz es el Señor del Feudo Blondel & Eperons de Normandía, un territorio de 800 años en las Islas Normandas. Desde el gran vikingo Rollo hasta la actualidad bajo el reinado del Rey Carlos, estas islas han permitido la aplicación de la ley feudal y los tribunales en los feudos y las costas de las islas. El Feudo Blondel y Eperons y su Señor están registrados directamente en los Tribunales Reales de la Corona, el Duque de Normandía y el Rey Carlos. Al igual que los Señores de Mónaco, los señores de Francia, Andorra, el Soberano Gozo de Malta, la Orden Militar Soberana de Malta (SMOM), el Monarca Papal de la Ciudad del Vaticano y el Señor de Sark, los antiguos Feudos de las Islas del Canal son reconocidos tanto por la ley nobiliaria como por el derecho internacional. El comisionado Dr. George Mentz fue elevado al rango de 26º Señor Libre y Señor del Feudo de Blondel et L'Epersons) en la isla de (Dgèrnésiais - Guernsey French) en diciembre de 2017. Mentz también registró el feudo directamente en los tribunales utilizando el sistema legal feudal de Conge y Tresieme, que es la forma oficial de transferir un feudo de un líder noble o par a otro propietario. El Feudo de Thom. Blondel es uno de los últimos grandes feudos privados en Europa en ser de propiedad privada, donde el señor posee las playas, el agua, las costas y las ciudades marítimas, incluidas las aguas internacionales. En otras culturas locales, el Señor libre Señor se conoce como Frhr. Friherre en Suecia, un Frhr. Vrijheer en holandés y un Frhr. Friherre en Dinamarca. Los Señores del Feudo Blondel et Eperons parecen ser más antiguos que los Señores de Mónaco, ya que la familia Grimaldi se estableció en Mónaco en 1297 y el Feudo Blondel también es más antiguo que el antiguo jeque del Kuwait, el Reino de Moscovia Rusia 1362, el Reino de España 1479, el Reino de Bohemia, el Reino de Bélgica. El Feudo Blondel también podría ser más antiguo que el Imperio Otomano, el Imperio de los Habsburgo y el Reino de Lituania.