Latest news with #Pluvier
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Authorities impound British vessel for fishing in French waters
May 25 (UPI) -- French authorities have impounded a British vessel for allegedly fishing in their waters without a license, officials announced. The French Navy stopped the vessel on Thursday night in the English Channel, which is being held at the port of Boulogne while authorities consider prosecution. "As the vessel remains subject to an ongoing investigation by French fisheries authorities, we are unable to comment further at this time," a government official said, according to the BBC. The French coast guard said its navy vessel Pluvier was conducting normal inspections in national waters on May 23 when it discovered the British vessel fishing, the "Lady T," without a license. The incident happened just a few days after British fishermen criticized Prime Minister Keir Starmer for agreeing to a deal that gives European Union fishing vessels access to British waters for a dozen years. Conservative British politicians have accused the French of "shameful double standards over the arrest of a British national now in French custody. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said French authorities have permitted thousand of migrants to cross the Channel in small boats and "taking no action whatsoever at sea an often ushering the illegal immigrants into UK waters," he said. "Yet when a UK fishing vessel is in French waters all of a sudden they are magically able to act. If the French can now intercept boats then they should start stopping the boats with illegal immigrants - as international law obliges them to do." French authorities have said seizing the "Lady T" was a "tit-for-tat" action after British authorities fined a French vessel more than $54,000 for breaching UK maritime rules, a French fishing official said.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
France seized British fishing boat as ‘payback for UK maritime fine'
France seized a British fishing boat in the English Channel as retaliation after a French boat was fined £40,000 for breaking UK maritime rules, it has been claimed. The Lady T, based in Eastbourne, East Sussex, was intercepted by the Pluvier, a French navy ship, on Thursday for fishing for whelks without a licence. It could be confiscated and its owner could be fined £63,000 for 'non-authorised fishing in French waters' by a non-EU boat. Olivier Leprêtre, chairman of the regional fishing committee in northern France, suggested on Sunday that the boat had been seized as a tit-for-tat measure after a French skipper was fined in a landmark case last month. In that instance, the skipper and owner of the French-registered vessel Pierre D'Ambre, were fined £40,000 in Newcastle Magistrates Court after being accused of bottom-trawling in a prohibited area of the Offshore Brighton Marine Conservation Zone. Mr Leprêtre told The Times: 'Until now the French government has always favoured discussions to repression, as opposed to the British government which always imposes rules that are more and more restrictive, and more and more counterproductive for French fishermen. 'There comes a moment when you have to say: Stop.' Meanwhile, a French official told the newspaper the Lady T was 'looking for it' after entering exclusive French waters. 'One moment it was in French waters, the next moment it was next to them,' they added. The spat comes less than a week after Sir Keir Starmer granted EU fishermen access to British waters for another 12 years in a deal critics believe will damage the industry. Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, accused the French of 'shameful double standards' after the Lady T was seized. He told The Telegraph: 'This shows shameful double standards. This year alone, the French have failed to stop 13,000 illegal immigrants crossing the channel – taking no action whatsoever at sea and often ushering the illegal immigrants into UK waters. 'Yet when a UK fishing vessel is in French waters all of a sudden they are magically able to act. If the French can now intercept boats then they should start stopping the boats with illegal immigrants – as international law obliges them to do. 'The Belgians can do it, and the French should too. We've all had enough of the French waving illegal immigrants through into UK waters.' Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, said 'it's all one way traffic'. 'The French can fish up to our six mile line for 12 more years and we have no force of law over their actions,' he said. France's Channel maritime prefecture said on Saturday that the British boat was caught by the Pluvier, a naval patrol boat, after being caught in French waters without authorisation. It added: 'This operation shows the vigilance of the state's services when it comes to protecting fishing resources and their determination to ensure respect of the regulations. 'It sends a signal to those who would be tempted to come and fish illegally in French waters.' A Government spokesperson said: 'A Government spokesperson said: 'We are aware that on 22 May a UK registered vessel was detained by the French fisheries authorities. 'We are supporting a British national and we are in touch with the local authorities. Our staff stand ready to support British Nationals overseas 24/7. 'As the vessel remains subject to an ongoing investigation by French fisheries authorities, we are unable to comment further at this time.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
UPI
25-05-2025
- Politics
- UPI
Authorities impound British vessel for fishing in French waters
United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks during a joint press conference with President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington DC in February 27. File photo by Chris Kleponis/UPI | License Photo May 25 (UPI) -- French authorities have impounded a British vessel for allegedly fishing in their waters without a license, officials announced. The French Navy stopped the vessel on Thursday night in the English Channel, which is being held at the port of Boulogne while authorities consider prosecution. "As the vessel remains subject to an ongoing investigation by French fisheries authorities, we are unable to comment further at this time," a government official said, according to the BBC. The French coast guard said its navy vessel Pluvier was conducting normal inspections in national waters on May 23 when it discovered the British vessel fishing, the "Lady T," without a license. The incident happened just a few days after British fishermen criticized Prime Minister Keir Starmer for agreeing to a deal that gives European Union fishing vessels access to British waters for a dozen years. Conservative British politicians have accused the French of "shameful double standards over the arrest of a British national now in French custody. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said French authorities have permitted thousand of migrants to cross the Channel in small boats and "taking no action whatsoever at sea an often ushering the illegal immigrants into UK waters," he said. "Yet when a UK fishing vessel is in French waters all of a sudden they are magically able to act. If the French can now intercept boats then they should start stopping the boats with illegal immigrants - as international law obliges them to do." French authorities have said seizing the "Lady T" was a "tit-for-tat" action after British authorities fined a French vessel more than $54,000 for breaching UK maritime rules, a French fishing official said.
Saudi Gazette
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
France seizes UK fishing vessel over alleged illegal activity in Channel waters
BOULOGNE, France — French authorities have impounded a British fishing vessel accused of operating illegally in French territorial waters, reigniting political tensions over post-Brexit fishing rights and enforcement. The vessel was seized by the French Navy on Thursday night in the English Channel and is now being held at the port of Boulogne pending a potential prosecution. French officials allege the crew was fishing without a valid licence. According to the French Coastguard, the naval patrol ship Pluvier intercepted the British vessel during a routine inspection on 23 May and ordered it to dock in Boulogne 'for the purpose of initiating prosecution.' No timeline has been given for the legal proceedings. The UK Foreign Office confirmed it is supporting a British national in France and is in contact with local authorities. 'As the vessel remains subject to an ongoing investigation by French fisheries authorities, we are unable to comment further at this time,' a UK government spokesperson said. The incident has stirred political criticism in the UK, especially following Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's recent agreement with the European Union, which includes a controversial provision granting EU fishing boats access to UK waters for an additional 12 years. The agreement is part of a broader reset deal covering trade, defence, and energy. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp accused France of 'shameful double standards,' claiming French authorities do little to intercept migrant boats crossing the Channel, yet acted swiftly in this case. 'If the French can now intercept boats then they should start stopping the boats with illegal immigrants — as international law obliges them to do,' Philp said. The Conservatives and Reform UK have called the deal a 'surrender' to Brussels, while the Liberal Democrats praised it as a constructive step toward rebuilding UK–EU ties. — BBC
Metro
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Metro
British fishing boat impounded in France accused of illegal fishing
A British fishing boat named after Margaret Thatcher is in French custody after being accused of operating without a licence in the country's waters. The Lady T is being held at the port of Boulogne and faces being confiscated after being seized in the English Channel on Thursday night. French navy ship the Pluvier caught the vessel, whose skipper may face prosecution for whelk fishing without a licence. The incident comes days after prime minister Sir Keir Starmer came under fire for his EU fishing rights deal which critics say favours the French. The British vessel was caught in the French Exclusive Economic Zone, off the Somme Bay, according to France's Martime Prefecture. A spokesman said: 'During this operation, which was part of the State's maritime enforcement, a British fishing vessel was inspected by sailors from the Navy patrol vessel while fishing without a license in French waters. 'As the offence was proved, the fishing vessel was diverted during the night of May 23rd to the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer, following the instructions of the Delegate for the Sea and Coastline, acting on behalf of the Regional Prefect, who oversees the fisheries police, for the purpose of initiating prosecution under the authority of the Public Prosecutor.' The Lady T was moored behind the Bassin Loubet fish market in Boulogne yesterday. The skipper, who refused to give his name, said: 'I have nothing to say to you, I won't answer.' Shadow home secretary Chris Philp drew on the example of the thousands of migrants crossing the Channel in small boats to accuse France of double standards. He claimed Paris was 'taking no action whatsoever at sea and often ushering the illegal immigrants into UK waters' but 'when a UK fishing vessel is in French waters all of a sudden they are magically able to act.' Under a new deal, European trawlers will be granted access to British waters for a further 12 years. A previous agreement, reached under prime minister Boris Johnson, saw the UK regain 25 per cent of EU fishing quotas, but this was set to run out next year. Now the EU will maintain unfettered access to the UK's coastal waters until 2038. Downing Street has said that the deal 'protects Britain's fishing access, fishing rights and fishing areas with no increase in the amount of fish EU vessels can catch in British waters'. Sir Keir met European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa at a summit in Lancaster House, London, to negotiate the deal. The Foreign Office said it is offering support to a British national in France and is in touch with the local authorities. More Trending A government spokesperson added: 'As the vessel remains subject to an ongoing investigation by French fisheries authorities, we are unable to comment further at this time.' Got a story? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ Or you can submit your videos and pictures here. For more stories like this, check our news page. Follow on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news updates. You can now also get articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here. MORE: 80 migrants saved from Channel in UK's biggest rescue for three years MORE: Sailor blockaded in France warns 'don't mess with the French' MORE: French patrol ship 'escorted small boats into UK waters for major rescues'
