The dispute between France and the UK over post-Brexit fishing licenses is coming to the fore. On Wednesday, France announced the entry into force next Tuesday of the first retaliatory measures against the Channel Islands and London if the number of licenses granted to French fishermen remains insufficient. On the same day, two British fishing vessels were fined in the Bay of Seine, while a Scottish trawler off Le Havre was diverted.
The latter will finally go to French justice. “The captain of the ship, Cornelis Gert Jan, was given by the maritime gendarmerie a summons to appear at the hearing of the Criminal Court of Le Havre on August 11, 2022”, indicated Cyrille Fournier, deputy prosecutor of Le Havre. He will be judged for “acts of unauthorized sea fishing in French maritime or salt waters by a vessel outside the European Union”.
Indeed, the captain, who fished more than two tonnes of scallops, “did not have the authorization required to fish in the French exclusive economic zone”. He faces a fine of 75,000 euros as well as administrative sanctions. The owner of the ship estimated Thursday that it was a “misunderstanding” and denounces a political maneuver.