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| Blockades halt channel crossings | |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Ferry operator P&O has cancelled all Dover to Calais crossings due to a blockade by French fishing boats. | Ferry operator P&O has cancelled all Dover to Calais crossings due to a blockade by French fishing boats. |
| The blockade at the port of Calais is also causing motorway disruption in Kent, police have said. | The blockade at the port of Calais is also causing motorway disruption in Kent, police have said. |
| Fishing fleets have been stopping ships entering or leaving Calais, Boulogne, and Dunkirk since Tuesday, in a dispute over fishing quotas. | |
| Services to Boulogne and Dunkirk have also been called off until further notice, P&O said. | Services to Boulogne and Dunkirk have also been called off until further notice, P&O said. |
| Norfolkline passenger Charles Suckling, who has been stranded at Dunkirk since Tuesday evening, said he and his family had food and water but had no idea how long they would have to wait. | Norfolkline passenger Charles Suckling, who has been stranded at Dunkirk since Tuesday evening, said he and his family had food and water but had no idea how long they would have to wait. |
| He said: "We've been sleeping in the car." | He said: "We've been sleeping in the car." |
| At six o'clock, eight fishing boats went back into the port of Calais and the whole thing kicked off again Chris Laming, P&O spokesman | At six o'clock, eight fishing boats went back into the port of Calais and the whole thing kicked off again Chris Laming, P&O spokesman |
| Mr Suckling said the French Red Cross was handing out thermal blankets to passengers who were in their cars, and also setting up camp beds and sleeping tents in the Norfolkline building. | Mr Suckling said the French Red Cross was handing out thermal blankets to passengers who were in their cars, and also setting up camp beds and sleeping tents in the Norfolkline building. |
| The French army had also arrived to deliver food rations, he added. | The French army had also arrived to deliver food rations, he added. |
| P&O spokesman Chris Laming said blockades were lifted temporarily overnight, allowing the ferry operator to repatriate 3,000 passengers who were waiting on the quayside. | P&O spokesman Chris Laming said blockades were lifted temporarily overnight, allowing the ferry operator to repatriate 3,000 passengers who were waiting on the quayside. |
| He said: "We got them all home by about two o'clock this morning, but at six o'clock, eight fishing boats went back into the port of Calais and the whole thing kicked off again." | He said: "We got them all home by about two o'clock this morning, but at six o'clock, eight fishing boats went back into the port of Calais and the whole thing kicked off again." |
| Mr Laming said fishing vessels had strung themselves across the entrance to the port, and the blockades operated "on the principle that we dare not run them over". | Mr Laming said fishing vessels had strung themselves across the entrance to the port, and the blockades operated "on the principle that we dare not run them over". |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
| Kent Police said part of the M20 was closed again on Wednesday to cope with the disruption. | Kent Police said part of the M20 was closed again on Wednesday to cope with the disruption. |
| The force said Operation Stack - in which lorries awaiting Channel crossings park on the coastbound M20 - was lifted overnight but then brought back in. | The force said Operation Stack - in which lorries awaiting Channel crossings park on the coastbound M20 - was lifted overnight but then brought back in. |
| Police advised cross-Channel passengers to contact travel operators for further details. | Police advised cross-Channel passengers to contact travel operators for further details. |
| French fishing unions have said they are protesting at ever tougher EU-imposed quotas, and demanding the French government take a stand on their behalf or offer more financial assistance. | French fishing unions have said they are protesting at ever tougher EU-imposed quotas, and demanding the French government take a stand on their behalf or offer more financial assistance. |
| Fishing catches | |
| On Wednesday, French ministers refused protesters' demands for increased cod quotas, but said they might offer extra financial support. | |
| Agriculture minister Michel Barnier said he would meet industry representatives to discuss further support for fishing boats in difficulty, but the government offered no suggestion the quota limits would change. | |
| Government spokesman Luc Chatel said France obtained a 30% increase in cod quotas in the Channel, in the latest annual negotiations. | |
| The EU has said that limiting the size of fishing catches is the best way to stop stocks being wiped out through over-fishing. | The EU has said that limiting the size of fishing catches is the best way to stop stocks being wiped out through over-fishing. |
| Information from P&O said that neither P&O Ferries nor the three other ferry companies operating out of Dover were sailing to Calais on Wednesday, nor were there any services to Boulogne or Dunkirk until further notice. | Information from P&O said that neither P&O Ferries nor the three other ferry companies operating out of Dover were sailing to Calais on Wednesday, nor were there any services to Boulogne or Dunkirk until further notice. |
| Long-term travellers were advised to make their way to the port and make alternative arrangements, which could include rail travel. | Long-term travellers were advised to make their way to the port and make alternative arrangements, which could include rail travel. |
| Day trippers were advised to rebook their journeys. | Day trippers were advised to rebook their journeys. |
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| Fishing fleets are blockading ports in a dispute over fishing quotas | Fishing fleets are blockading ports in a dispute over fishing quotas |