Around a dozen boats blocked the major French port at dawn leaving at least two ferries filled with British tourists waiting for hours.
Photos later emerged of fishermen burning tyres at a roadblock in the city of Boulogne, at another port 20 miles southwest of Calais
By 2pm the port was still shut off as authorities tried to reason with the protesters, who are angry at at losses caused by electric pulse fishing.
Those customers hit by the blockade were being told to contact their ferry company as the demonstration continued.
Dover MP Charlie Elphicke hit out at the protest today and put the blame squarely on the French President’s shoulder.
He fumed: “President Macron urgently needs to get a grip of the situation and put a stop to the disruption – which is damaging for both the French and British economies.
“This shows why we urgently need more investment at the Dover frontline – and in the roads that lead to the channel ports.
“That means dualling the A2 and getting more lorry parking facilities built to stop trucks from clogging up traffic.
“We must invest now to ensure traffic continues to flow freely when we leave the European Union.”
French fishermen are up in arms over say pulse fishing in demarcated zones which they say is depleting fish numbers.
The technique uses electrodes to emit electric waves, stunning fish which then float upwards and are scooped up by giant nets.
Last week, the European Parliament voted in favour of banning commercial pulse fishing.
Opponents say it is tantamount to putting a taser gun in the water.
But fisherman Stephane Pinto said no action had been taken, complaining: “We’re at our wits ends. We feel abandoned.”
Calais is France’s busiest passenger port and a major entry point to Europe for British goods.
Some two million lorries, tens of thousands of coaches and 10 million passengers pass through it every year.
But ferries were unable sail to Dover from Calais as the fishermen staged their industrial action.
James Bell, chief executive of P&O Ferries, said today: “It is utterly unacceptable that a small number of individuals have been allowed to bring to a standstill a port on which thousands of businesses and tourist rely every day.
“We call on the French authorities to ensure that the blockade is cleared without further delay and that Calais reopens for business.
“In the meantime I would like to apologise to every one of our sutlers and assure them that our dedicated employees will be doing everything they possibly can to help them complete their journeys as soon as possible.”
Today, drivers heading to Dover were warned that approach roads would be extremely busy.
Tourists driving to the port are advised to consider using the M2/A2 while freight and cruise traffic is advised to use the M20/A20.
Local drivers are being urged to consider other routes such as the B2011, A256 or A258, which may not be suitable for HGVs
Highways England said: “Drivers heading to Dover are being advised to plan their journeys as key routes are likely to be busier than normal due to industrial action in Calais.
“The port of Calais is currently closed due to the industrial action across the channel.
“This has led to severe restrictions in ferries leaving Dover, with traffic queueing at the port.”