A British trawler has been seized by France and another has been given a verbal warning, amid an escalating row over post-Brexit fishing rights, The BBC reports.
French maritime minister Annick Girardin said the ships were cautioned during checks off Le Havre overnight. She said the first did not comply right away and the second was not allowed to fish in French waters so was detained. She reportedly told told RTL radio: “This is not war, but this is a combat.”
Ms Girardin said that one of the British trawlers was caught fishing in the Bay of Seine without the proper licences and was diverted to the port of Le Havre where it was detained by the authorities, where their catch could be confiscated and the boat held until a deposit is paid. The boat’s captain also risks penal sanctions.
Meanwhile, the other boat was cautioned for initially resisting the check.
Ms Girardin said checks on the British vessels were standard during the scallop fishing season.
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