The British vessel’s captain now faces prosecution for fishing whelks without a licence.
The British fishing vessel is being held at Boulogne-sur-Mer in France (archive image) (Image: Getty)
French authorities have seized a British fishing boat after amid an allegation it was operating without a licence in the English Channel. The Pluvier, a French naval vessel, reportedly caught the 10m long Lady T on Thursday. The Eastbourne-based boat is being held at Boulogne-sur-Mer and is said to be at risk of confiscation.
The British catamaran’s captain now faces prosecution for fishing whelks without a licence, according to the Telegraph. A spokesman for France’s Martime Prefecture said the Pluvier was conducting a fishing inspection in the French Exclusive Economic Zone, off the Somme Bay on May 22. The British boat is forbidden from leaving the French port until further notice.
He added: “During this operation, which was part of the State’s maritime enforcement, a British fishing vessel was inspected by sailors from the Navy patrol vessel while fishing without a license in French waters.
“As the offence was proved, the fishing vessel was diverted during the night of May 23 to the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer, following the instructions of the Delegate for the Sea and Coastline, acting on behalf of the Regional Prefect, who oversees the fisheries police, for the purpose of initiating prosecution under the authority of the Public Prosecutor.”
The spokesman added the operation demonstrates the vigilance of French authorities in protecting fisheries resources and France’s determination to enforce regulations.
He said: “It sends a clear signal to those who might be tempted to fish illegally in French waters.”
The Lady T’s skipper, who refused to give his name, reportedly told the Telegraph: “I have nothing to say to you. I won’t answer.”
News of the UK vessel’s seizure came after another British-flagged vessel was detained in French waters last Saturday.
The Truro-registered Francesca TO 80 was spotted 30 nautical miles off the island of Batz, Brittany, and was escorted to the port of Brest.
French inspectors suspected the crew of unlicensed fishing in French waters, which it was alleged constituted an offence under the Rural and Maritime Fishing Code.
It came before an agreement was reached between the UK and EU which guarantees access to Britain’s waters for the bloc’s fishing vessels until June 2038.
The deal led political opponents to claim the Labour Government had caved in to Brussels’ demands.
Shadow Environment Secretary Victoria Atkins said Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had sunk Britain’s fishing industry. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said “nobody has lost more than fishermen” as a result of the negotiations. Former prime minister Boris Johnson said it was a “total sell-out” of UK fisheries.
Scottish First Minister John Swinney said the Government had “surrendered” fishing in its deal, which he said showed Scotland was an “afterthought” in decision-making. The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation branded the UK-EU deal a “horror show” for the sector.
Sir Keir said the old deal would have meant year-on-year negotiations over fishing access and insisted fisheries would be better off under the deal, pointing particularly to the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement with the bloc.
He told reporters on Monday (May 19): “We’ve reached a deal today on fish, protecting our access, rights and fishing areas with no increase in the amount that EU vessels can catch in British waters.
“Our fishing industry will also benefit from the new SPS agreement which slashes costs and red tape for our exports into the European market.
“And we already sell 70% of our seafood into that market, so it’s really significant. It is also opening the gates to sending shellfish back into the EU.”
Most Popular Comments
1st Most liked comment • 1 hour ago29
“So the French can stop boats after all.”
2nd Most liked comment • 1 hour ago27
“Sir Keir surrendered this country to our EU masters.”
3rd Most liked comment • 1 hour ago27
“Shame they can’t stop the boats coming our way!”