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| Fishing row: UK boat held by French released | Fishing row: UK boat held by French released |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| The British trawler that was detained by France during the post-Brexit fishing row has been released by the French authorities. | The British trawler that was detained by France during the post-Brexit fishing row has been released by the French authorities. |
| The Scottish-registered scallop dredger Cornelis Gert Jan left the northern French port of Le Havre on Wednesday evening. | The Scottish-registered scallop dredger Cornelis Gert Jan left the northern French port of Le Havre on Wednesday evening. |
| The trawler's owner, Macduff Shellfish, said it was "delighted" that the crew and vessel could return home. | The trawler's owner, Macduff Shellfish, said it was "delighted" that the crew and vessel could return home. |
| French authorities held the boat last week, saying it did not have a licence. | French authorities held the boat last week, saying it did not have a licence. |
| France delays sanctions as fishing talks continue | France delays sanctions as fishing talks continue |
| Turbulence has hit relations with France, PM says | Turbulence has hit relations with France, PM says |
| Who really owns UK fishing rights? | Who really owns UK fishing rights? |
| Menna Rawlings, the UK's ambassador to France, welcomed the news, tweeting: "Glad to hear the Cornelis is free to leave Le Havre and that the Brits on board are on their way home tonight." | Menna Rawlings, the UK's ambassador to France, welcomed the news, tweeting: "Glad to hear the Cornelis is free to leave Le Havre and that the Brits on board are on their way home tonight." |
| The dispute over post-Brexit fishing licences flared up last month, after the UK and Jersey denied fishing permits to several French boats. | The dispute over post-Brexit fishing licences flared up last month, after the UK and Jersey denied fishing permits to several French boats. |
| France then threatened a series of measures against the UK unless more licences were granted by 2 November. | France then threatened a series of measures against the UK unless more licences were granted by 2 November. |
| But French President Emmanuel Macron suspended the threats at the 11th hour ahead of more talks between UK and French ministers on Thursday. | But French President Emmanuel Macron suspended the threats at the 11th hour ahead of more talks between UK and French ministers on Thursday. |
| Earlier, the trawler's skipper Jondy Ward told the BBC they had been "caught in the middle" of the political row. | |
| Mr Ward faces trial in France next August regardless of Wednesday's court's ruling that the boat can be released, but the charges could be dropped before then. | |
| What is the fishing row about? | |
| In short, about how many French fishing boats can catch fish in UK waters. | |
| Under the Brexit trade deal, the EU and UK agreed they would give licences to boats if they can show they have fished in each other's waters for years. | |
| But there have been disagreements about how much evidence is needed. | |
| Big trawlers will routinely collect this information automatically. | |
| But smaller vessels that come from French harbours to fish around the Channel Islands, for example, can find it harder to provide the proof needed. | |
| Read more about post-Brexit fishing rules | |
| Downing Street acknowledged that France could reimpose its threats as Brexit minister Lord Frost prepared to hold talks with France's Europe minister Clement Beaune on Thursday. | |
| The prime minister's official spokesman said: "It's entirely up to the French government if they want to reimpose the threats that we saw they both announced and stood back from in recent days." | |
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