THE Britain condemned today the “disproportionate” seizure by France of a British fishing gear in French territorial waters, an incident that marks a sharp deterioration in a fisheries rights dispute in the post-Brexit era.
Fisheries Minister Anik Ziraden said the fishing vessel was seized during a routine check in the northern port of Le Havre overnight as he was not allowed to fish in French territorial waters. A second British vessel was given an oral recommendation.
According to Deutsche Welle, the incident signals France’s determination not to give in to the dispute, after yesterday announcing possible sanctions against Britain, if there is no progress in the talks. These include, among other things, additional customs controls on British products and a threat that was seen as reducing Britain’s electricity exports or raising tariffs if the talks fail.
“It is not a war, it is a battle,” Ziraden told RTL.
France’s actions appear to be a warning to put pressure on Britain to compromise in talks with the EU.
But the British government said France’s response was “disappointing and disproportionate and not what one would expect from a close ally and partner”.
“We are aware of the information on enforcement activities developed by the French authorities and are investigating the matter as a matter of urgency,” the statement said.
Paris says Britain has refused to grant its fishermen the full number of licenses to allow French fishing vessels to operate in British territorial waters.
“So we have to speak the language of power, as this seems to be the only thing the British government understands,” European Affairs Minister Clement Bonn told CNews.
For his part, Barry Dees, head of Britain’s National Federation of Fisheries Organizations, said France seemed determined to escalate the licensing dispute.
“I guess we have to ask ourselves why. “Presidential elections are coming up in France and I think all indications are that rhetoric is escalating in the light of the fisheries issue,” he told the BBC.
The captain of the confiscated fishing boat, which is now under the control of the French judicial authorities, could face criminal prosecution, while his confiscated fish was also announced by the Ministry of Shipping.
An organization representing British fishermen recognized the seized ship as Cornelis Gert Jan, noting that it had the right to fish in French waters and may not have been on the list of approved vessels by mistake.
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