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Telegraph
3 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Fisherman caught in diplomatic row with France breaks silence
A British fishing skipper whose boat was seized by the French has accused them of threatening his livelihood. Phil Parker said the French maritime authorities had seized 200 whelk pots and robbed him of £6,000 of fishing income by impounding his boat The Lady T for six days before releasing it for a bond of €30,000 (£25,200). He also faces a fine of €45,000 Euros (£38,000) on top of the bond if found guilty by a French court of 'non-authorised fishing in French waters' in a non-EU boat. Speaking publicly about the incident for the first time, Mr Parker told The Telegraph he intended to fight the case to the bitter end, claiming he had been only 288 metres into EU waters when his boat was stopped by the French. He has the backing of British fishing industry leaders, who have accused the Labour Government of selling out the British fleet, and said the treatment of the Lady T showed the French were not interested in partnership. The Lady T, based in Eastbourne, East Sussex, was intercepted by the Pluvier, a French navy ship, on May 22 for 'non-authorised fishing in French waters'. Four days later, the vessel, which was accused of fishing for whelks without an External Waters Licence, was allowed to return to Britain following the payment of the 30,000 Euros bond. Mr Parker said he failed to realise that his boat's licence to fish in the waters where he was stopped had not been renewed when he set sail. But he said the French maritime authorities behaved vindictively by impounding his boat rather than letting him off with a warning.
The Sun
24-05-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Brit fishing boat intercepted & detained by French patrol ship in English Channel after ‘whelking without a licence'
A BRITISH fishing boat has been detained by French authorities after allegedly being caught "whelking without a licence" - in the English Channel. The Lady T., which is based in Eastbourne, East Sussex, was being held in Boulogne-sur-Mer on Saturday, and now risks being confiscated. 3 3 3 It comes mere days after Keir Starmer surrendered British fishing waters for another 12 years after being reeled in by a classic EU ambush. France's Martime Prefecture said: "On Thursday, May 22, the French Navy's public service patrol vessel, the Pluvier, conducted a fishing inspection in the French Exclusive Economic Zone, off the Somme Bay. They said that during the scan "a British fishing vessel was inspected by sailors from the Navy patrol vessel while fishing without a license in French waters". The Brit boat was captured by French Navy ship the Pluvier on Thursday. The catamaran's skipper now faces prosecution for fishing for whelks without a license. The Martime Prefecture added: "As the offence was proved, the fishing vessel was diverted during the night of May 23rd to the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer." The authorities also boasted: "This operation demonstrates the vigilance of State services in protecting fisheries resources and their determination to enforce regulations. "It sends a clear signal to those who might be tempted to fish illegally in French waters." On the day it was caught, the Lady T. was moored behind the Bassin Loubet fish market in Boulogne. Her skipper refused to give his name. He said: "I have nothing to say to you, I won't answer." The 32ft (10m) long Lady T. is now forbidden to leave the port until further notice. It comes after another Brit vessel was intercepted and detained in French waters last Saturday, just hours before Starmer was accused of "surrendering" to the EU over fishing rights. The Francesca TO 80, which is registered in Truro, Cornwall, was spotted 30 nautical miles off the island of Batz, off Roscoff, Brittany. She was then escorted to the port of Brest after inspectors suspected the crew of unlicensed fishing in French waters. This also constituted an alleged offence under the Rural and Maritime Fishing Code. is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.
