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French and British fishing boats clash in scallop war skirmish French and British fishing boats clash in scallop war skirmish
(about 9 hours later)
Stones were thrown and boats rammed each other as French and British fishermen clashed in the Channel on Tuesday over access to scallops, the latest flare-up in a years-long war over the prized shellfish. French and British fishing boats have clashed in the English Channel in a row over scallops, with stones thrown and boats rammed at each other in a row over the prized shellfish.
The British fishermen were heavily outnumbered by five boats to 35 French vessels, according to maritime official Ingrid Parot, and were eventually chased from the scallop-rich waters of the Baie de Seine area of Normandy. The clash broke out on Tuesday morning as an estimated 35 French boats appeared to surround five British vessels leading to an angry standoff.
The skirmish took place more than 12 nautical miles out to sea, where British fishermen are legally allowed to work year-round. The row is part of a long-standing battle over scallop fishing, with the French accusing British boats of over-fishing off the coast of Normandy. They say they are trying to protect a scallop bed.
But their French counterparts, restricted to fishing for scallops between 1 October and 15 May, have accused the British of depleting stocks, and want them to face the same rules. The skirmish took place more than 12 nautical miles out to sea. Under EU law, the British are not allowed to fish within 12 miles of the French coast but they can dredge for scallops in the 40-mile stretch of international water known as the Baie de Seine – while the French have access only from November to February.
French fishermen threw smoke-bombs and hurled insults at British rivals, with British fishing boat workers demanding the government intervenes, calling for navy protection.
On Tuesday morning, British boats were heavily outnumbered, according to maritime official Ingrid Parot, and were eventually chased from the scallop-rich waters of the Baie de Seine area.
“The French went to contact the British to stop them working and they clashed with each other. Apparently there was stone-throwing, but no injuries,” said Normandy fishing chief Dimitri Rogoff.“The French went to contact the British to stop them working and they clashed with each other. Apparently there was stone-throwing, but no injuries,” said Normandy fishing chief Dimitri Rogoff.
Rogoff said about 40 French boats had gathered overnight in protest at British “pillaging” of the scallop supply.Rogoff said about 40 French boats had gathered overnight in protest at British “pillaging” of the scallop supply.
Boats were rammed – footage from local channel France 3 Normandie showed holes in three vessels – as the angry French fishermen threw smoke-bombs and hurled insults at British rivals. Footage from local TV channel France 3 Normandie showed boats being rammed and holes in three vessels as the French fishermen threw smoke-bombs at their British rivals.
“We are advising all parties to be calm as from the video clips some vessels are manoeuvring very dangerously,” Barrie Deas, chief executive of Britain’s National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations, told Agence France-Presse. “We are advising all parties to be calm as from the video clips some vessels are manoeuvring very dangerously,” Barrie Deas, the chief executive of Britain’s National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations, told Agence France-Presse.
“We have raised the matter with the British government and asked for protection for our vessels which are fishing legitimately,” he added. “We have raised the matter with the British government and asked for protection for our vessels, which are fishing legitimately,” he added. “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.” Britain’s scallop fishing industry is worth about £120m a year and supports more than 1,200 jobs.
Tensions have been high between British and French fishermen over the issue for around 15 years, leading to angry disputes which have been dubbed “scallop wars”. Tensions have been high between British and French fishermen over the issue for around 15 years, leading to angry disputes, which have been labelled “scallop wars”.
In 2012, tensions broke out in a dispute, known in France as La Guerre de la Coquille Saint-Jacques, when British and French fishermen clashed this time off the coast of Le Havre, France.
The two sides have reached annual agreements over the past five years, but according to Rogoff the French blocked a deal this year, saying they had had enough. “For the Brits, it’s an open bar – they fish when they want, where they want, and as much as they want,” he complained.The two sides have reached annual agreements over the past five years, but according to Rogoff the French blocked a deal this year, saying they had had enough. “For the Brits, it’s an open bar – they fish when they want, where they want, and as much as they want,” he complained.
The problem had grown worse over the past 15 years as English, Scottish and Irish boats had upped their catches considerably, he added. “We don’t want to stop them from fishing, but they could at least wait until 1 October so that we can share.” The problem had grown worse over the past 15 years as English, Scottish and Irish boats had increased their catches considerably, he added. “We don’t want to stop them from fishing, but they could at least wait until 1 October so that we can share.”
Norman fishermen say the British use bigger trawlers of 30 metres (98 feet) or more – roughly double the size of their vessels, which use more artisan techniques. Norman fishermen say the British use bigger trawlers of 30 metres (98 feet) or more – roughly double the size of the French vessels, which use more artisan techniques.
The biggest British vessels can freeze scallops on board. “Scallops are a flagship product for Normandy, a primary resource and a highly sensitive issue,” said Rogoff.The biggest British vessels can freeze scallops on board. “Scallops are a flagship product for Normandy, a primary resource and a highly sensitive issue,” said Rogoff.
If Britain crashed out of the European Union next year without a deal, the problem would be solved for the Normans, he added. “After 29 March 2019, they would be treated as a third party and would no longer have access to these areas,” he said.If Britain crashed out of the European Union next year without a deal, the problem would be solved for the Normans, he added. “After 29 March 2019, they would be treated as a third party and would no longer have access to these areas,” he said.
The pro-Brexit organisation Fishing for Leave, however, has denounced the “hypocrisy” of French fishermen, claiming that they have caught 60% of the fish in British waters over the past 40 years.The pro-Brexit organisation Fishing for Leave, however, has denounced the “hypocrisy” of French fishermen, claiming that they have caught 60% of the fish in British waters over the past 40 years.
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Fishing industryFishing industry
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