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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Scallop war: French and British boats clash in Channel | Scallop war: French and British boats clash in Channel |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| French fishermen have been accused of throwing insults, rocks and smoke bombs at their British rivals in the English Channel in a vicious scrap over scallops. | French fishermen have been accused of throwing insults, rocks and smoke bombs at their British rivals in the English Channel in a vicious scrap over scallops. |
| The clash happened around 12 nautical miles (22km) off the Normandy coast, in the Bay of Seine. | |
| British boats are legally entitled to fish in the scallop-rich area. | British boats are legally entitled to fish in the scallop-rich area. |
| But their presence has infuriated the French, who accuse the British of shamelessly depleting shellfish stocks. | But their presence has infuriated the French, who accuse the British of shamelessly depleting shellfish stocks. |
| Now UK fishermen are demanding government protection, while the French bewail the loss of a "primary resource". | Now UK fishermen are demanding government protection, while the French bewail the loss of a "primary resource". |
| What exactly happened? | What exactly happened? |
| Around 40 French boats gathered overnight on Monday in protest against so-called British "pillaging". | Around 40 French boats gathered overnight on Monday in protest against so-called British "pillaging". |
| "The French went to contact the British to stop them working and they clashed with each other," said Normandy fishing chief Dimitri Rogoff. "Apparently there was stone-throwing, but no injuries." | "The French went to contact the British to stop them working and they clashed with each other," said Normandy fishing chief Dimitri Rogoff. "Apparently there was stone-throwing, but no injuries." |
| Some boats were damaged in the skirmish, with three suffering holes, footage from France 3 Normandie showed. | Some boats were damaged in the skirmish, with three suffering holes, footage from France 3 Normandie showed. |
| The British couldn't match the local armada for numbers. With about five boats to 35 French vessels, they were ultimately chased away. | The British couldn't match the local armada for numbers. With about five boats to 35 French vessels, they were ultimately chased away. |
| Two British boats, Golden Promise and Joanna C, returned to Brixham harbour with damaged windows. | Two British boats, Golden Promise and Joanna C, returned to Brixham harbour with damaged windows. |
| The crews alleged they were surrounded and had rocks and metal shackles thrown at their boats. | The crews alleged they were surrounded and had rocks and metal shackles thrown at their boats. |
| A video published by French media appears to show a Scottish scallop dredger, the Honeybourne 3, colliding with nearby vessels. | A video published by French media appears to show a Scottish scallop dredger, the Honeybourne 3, colliding with nearby vessels. |
| Why has it all blown up now? | Why has it all blown up now? |
| Tension has rumbled for 15 years, but in the past five a deal has prevailed - larger British boats stayed out of the area in exchange for more fishing rights. | Tension has rumbled for 15 years, but in the past five a deal has prevailed - larger British boats stayed out of the area in exchange for more fishing rights. |
| British boats can gather scallops year-round, but French law restricts the scallop fishing season to between 1 October and 15 May. | British boats can gather scallops year-round, but French law restricts the scallop fishing season to between 1 October and 15 May. |
| This year, the fed-up French rejected that agreement. | This year, the fed-up French rejected that agreement. |
| "For the Brits, it's an open bar - they fish when they want, where they want, and as much as they want," Mr Rogoff complained. | "For the Brits, it's an open bar - they fish when they want, where they want, and as much as they want," Mr Rogoff complained. |
| "We don't want to stop them from fishing, but they could at least wait until 1 October so that we can share. | "We don't want to stop them from fishing, but they could at least wait until 1 October so that we can share. |
| "Scallops are a flagship product for Normandy, a primary resource and a highly sensitive issue." | "Scallops are a flagship product for Normandy, a primary resource and a highly sensitive issue." |
| How have the Brits reacted? | How have the Brits reacted? |
| Mike Park, chief executive of the Scottish White Fish Producers Association, described the clashing incident as "clear piracy". | Mike Park, chief executive of the Scottish White Fish Producers Association, described the clashing incident as "clear piracy". |
| Speaking about the Scottish boat, he told BBC Scotland: "He's fully entitled to be there. UK vessels can enter that French zone, it's not illegal. | Speaking about the Scottish boat, he told BBC Scotland: "He's fully entitled to be there. UK vessels can enter that French zone, it's not illegal. |
| "The Peterhead vessel is going about its business. The French vessels are probably attacking it." | "The Peterhead vessel is going about its business. The French vessels are probably attacking it." |
| Appeals for calm were issued by Britain's National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations, which said some boats had been filmed manoeuvring dangerously. | Appeals for calm were issued by Britain's National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations, which said some boats had been filmed manoeuvring dangerously. |
| "We have raised the matter with the British government and asked for protection for our vessels, which are fishing legitimately," its chief executive, Barrie Deas, said. | "We have raised the matter with the British government and asked for protection for our vessels, which are fishing legitimately," its chief executive, Barrie Deas, said. |
| "The deeper issues behind the clashes should be settled by talking around the table, not on the high seas where people could be hurt." | "The deeper issues behind the clashes should be settled by talking around the table, not on the high seas where people could be hurt." |
| Are you a UK fisherman with knowledge of what is happening in the English Channel? Please share your experience of scallop fishing by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you a UK fisherman with knowledge of what is happening in the English Channel? Please share your experience of scallop fishing by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |