Two British fishing vessels detained for catch limits

Two British fishing vessels were detained and one fined in the Bay of the Seine. It is an element of the policy of "acceleration of control" in the conflict between France and Britain over fishing for fish after a brexit.

France announced Wednesday implementation of retaliatory measures against the United Kingdom for restrictions on the granting of fishing licences to French fishermen. As part of these measures, two English fishing vessels were detained by the French Marine Gendarmerie during the inspection, and one was diverted to the port of Le Havre, reported the Ministry of the Sea on Twitter.

Ship Fishing, which initially did not comply with the request to board the gendarmes, was fined for "obstruction of control".

"Controls during the scallop fishing period are part of a tightening of controls in the context of licensing talks with the UK and the European Commission", the ministry specified in a press release.

"Time to reply" on Brexit fishing licences," said Minister Annick Girardin.

As of 2 November, "systematic customs and sanitary checks on British products landed in France and ban on the unloading of seafood" will be introduced, announced by government spokesman Gabriel Attal on Tuesday. The French government also threatened to restrict electricity supply to the Channel Islands, Jersey and Guernsey.

Written by Katarzyna Stańko/PAP