Post-Brexit Fishing Dispute, France Seizes British Trawlers

Illustration of a boat dock on the island of Jersey. (Wikimedia Commons/Unukorno)

JAKARTA - A British trawler has been seized by France and others have been fined, amid an escalating row over post-Brexit fishing rights.

French Maritime Minister Annick Girardin said the ships were alerted during a check in Le Havre last night.

Citing the BBC's October 28, Minister Girardin said the former did not immediately comply. Second, they are not allowed to fish in French waters so they are detained.

On Wednesday, Britain's Brexit minister Lord David Frost said France's threat to detain British ships from ports was 'disappointing'.

Minister Girardin said on Twitter one of the British trawlers was caught fishing in the Gulf of the Seine without proper permits.

He said the vessels were diverted to the port of Le Havre and detained by judicial authorities, where their catch could be confiscated and the vessels held until bail was paid. Ship captains also face the risk of criminal sanctions.

Meanwhile, another vessel was fined for initially refusing the inspection, added Minister Girardin. He said inspections on British vessels were standard during shellfish fishing season.

He said the move came in tandem with tightening controls on the Channel, in the context of discussions on licensing with the UK and the European Commission.

Barrie Deas, of the National Federation of Fishermen's Organizations, the body that represents fishermen in the UK, said the 'tit for tat' relationship between Britain and France was 'unhelpful'.

"Enforcement action may be 'normal', but 'deeply concerning' in the context of the French Government's threat, Deas told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

To note, France has warned it will block British ships from several ports next week, as well as tighten checks on British ships and trucks, if the post-Brexit dispute over fishing permits is not resolved by November 2.

Meanwhile, Britain said threats by France were 'disproportionate' and violated international law and trade agreements.

France was angered by decisions from Britain and Jersey last month to deny fishing permits to dozens of French vessels, and argued it violated the Brexit deal.

French trawlers had earlier protested outside the port of St Helier in Jersey, a dependency of the British Empire, with France threatening to cut off Jersey's power supply in retaliation.

From Tuesday next week, France will implement a number of measures, including preventing British fishing vessels from disembarking in ports, increasing border and sanitation checks on British goods, tightening security checks on British vessels and increasing inspections of trucks going to and from the UK.

France said it was also preparing for further sanctions, which could include cutting electricity supply to Jersey, a dependency of the United Kingdom, as previously threatened in May.

"The French state will continue to support its fishing industry," the government said, adding that it expected a response from the UK "in the next few days".

Separately in a statement, Lord Frost said: "It is disappointing that France felt the need to make a late-night threat to the UK fishing industry and apparently traders more broadly.

"As we have no formal communication from the French government regarding this matter, we will seek immediate clarification of their plans. We will consider what further action is required in that regard."