A British fishing boat was in French custody today after allegedly being caught operating without a licence in the English Channel.
The Lady T, which is based in Eastbourne, East Sussex, was being held in Boulogne-sur-Mer on Saturday and now risks being confiscated.
She was caught by the Pluvier, a French Navy ship, on Thursday, and the catamaran’s skipper now faces prosecution for fishing for whelks without a license.
It comes days after Prime Minister Keir Starmer was heavily criticised over a landmark deal with the EU over fishing rights which hugely favour the French.
A spokesman for France’s Martime Prefecture said: ‘On Thursday, May 22, the French Navy’s public service patrol vessel, the Pluvier, conducted a fishing inspection in the French Exclusive Economic Zone, off the Somme Bay.
‘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 23rd 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: ‘This operation demonstrates the vigilance of State services in protecting fisheries resources and their determination to enforce regulations.
The Lady T, which is based in Eastbourne, East Sussex, was being held in Boulogne-sur-Mer on Saturday and now risks being confiscated for unlicensed fishing
The Francesca TO 80, which is registered in Truro, Cornwall, was spotted 30 nautical miles off the island of Batz, off Roscoff, Brittany and has been escorted to Brest
British vessel The Lady T was caught by the Pluvier, a French Navy ship, on Thursday
‘It sends a clear signal to those who might be tempted to fish illegally in French waters.’
On Saturday, the Lady T. was moored behind the Bassin Loubet fish market in Boulogne.
Her skipper, who refused to give his name, said: ‘I have nothing to say to you, I won’t answer’.
His 32ft (10m) long boat is now forbidden to leave the port until further notice.
Another British-flagged vessel was intercepted and detained in French waters last Saturday – less than 48 hours before the UK government was accused of ‘surrendering’ to the EU over fishing rights.
The Francesca TO 80, which is registered in Truro, Cornwall, was spotted 30 nautical miles off the island of Batz, off Roscoff, Brittany.
She was then escorted to the port of Brest after inspectors suspected the crew of unlicensed fishing in French waters.
This also constituted an offence under the Rural and Maritime Fishing Code, it was alleged.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer met European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at a summit in London to negotiate the deal, alongside European Council President Antonio Costa
One skipper, based in Dover, described the action as ‘outrageous’.
He told GB News: ‘It is so typical of the French.
‘They should be totally focused on trying to prevent the daily illegal incursions by migrants into the Channel.
‘And the only actual enforcement work they’re doing is targeting British fisherman.’
Under a new deal, European trawlers will be granted access to British waters for a further 12 years.
A previous agreement, reached under Prime Minister Boris Johnson, saw the UK regain 25 per cent of EU fishing quotas, but this was set to run out next year.
Now the EU will maintain unfettered access to the UK’s coastal waters until 2038.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said the 12-year deal on access for European boats ‘will be the end of the fishing industry’.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer met European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa at a summit in Lancaster House, London, to negotiate the deal.
