Fish wars have broken out in the English Channel as French trawlers confronted their British counterparts – firing flares and throwing frying pans.
Two British boats – the Girl Macey, skippered by Scott Glover, and the Golden Promise, by Brian Whittington – fishing for scallops were involved in the skirmish.
The vessels, both based out of Brixham in Devon, were surrounded by around 20 French boats and were pelted with objects including frying pans and rocks.
The French crews even threw oil at the Gal Macey before firing a flare at the ship, with the violence sparking fears that there could be a death as hostilities worsen.
Ministers have put in place a ‘five-fold increase in our enforcement capacity’ over the last year in preparation for a possible ‘Cod War’ stand-off with European trawlermen.
Fishing remains one of the key sticking points to a Brexit deal, with Boris Johnson unwilling to allow EU trawlers to continue their existing access to UK waters forever.
UK fisherman have been surrounded and hounded by French trawlers in the English Channel
Fish wars have broken out in the Channel as French trawlers confronted British counterparts
The vessels were surrounded by around 20 French boats and were pelted with frying pans
The French crews even threw oil at the Gal Macey before firing a flare at the ship in the Channel
The recent violence has sparked fears that there could be a death as hostilities worsen
This map shows the extent of the UK’s Exclusive Economic Zone – the waters Britain will take back control of after Brexit. At the moment the EEZ of every European Union member state is merged into one large zone which can be accessed by fishermen from all over Europe
Officials fear this could lead to a repeat of the 1970s ‘Cod Wars’, when British trawlers backed by the Royal Navy clashed with Icelandic coastguard vessels in a doomed attempt to maintain historic fishing rights in the North Atlantic.
Following the latest incident, Brian ‘Winkle’ Whittington, 43, skipper of the Golden Promise, said: ‘I was expecting it this time, they only do it in the dark.
‘We can’t use the radio when they do it as they just talk over us instantly, so I couldn’t check on Scott to see how he was.
‘We were about two miles apart and I had two or three boats around me. Scott had 15 around him, they were throwing oil at him and firing flares.
‘I was mentally prepared for it, I knew it was going to happen again.’
Derek Meredith, a fishermen from Brixham and owner of the Golden Promise, told how he believes that tensions are heightening in the channel.
He warned that the incident could have easily resulted in a death, because the flare could have set the Gal Macey on fire.
He said: ‘When I heard about it I was very concerned, if that flare went into the wheel house the boat would have burned up, and would the French have helped?
‘The boat would sink and the French would just leave our boys to drown. They shouldn’t be doing what they’re doing but they seem to get away with it every year.’
Mr Meredith also called on the Royal Navy to help British fishermen, saying they were routinely attacked while doing their jobs.
He said that despite growing tensions and worsening conflict, nothing is done and his crew are left to fend for themselves.
He added: ‘They act very aggressively, they do every year. Last year they smashed our windows and stuff and nothing happened – they get away with it every year.
‘The fishermen were surrounding out boats and throwing things at them, it’s the same as last year.
‘They pull in front of the fishing boat so it has to drop out of gear, and they will then chaperone you to the area where they want you to fish.’
Tensions have been growing each year due to a difference in fishing restrictions between the UK and France.
A Defra spokesperson said: ‘We are very disappointed by this reported incident in the Bay of Seine. The British vessels were fishing legally and have every right to do so in safety.
‘We support UK vessels fishing where they have a legal right to do so, and have been in contact with the French Government to ensure those rights are protected and safety at sea is assured.’
British scallopers are allowed to fish year round, but the French are not permitted to fish between May 15 and October 1.
Tensions are growing due to a difference in fishing restrictions between the UK and France
British scallopers can fish all year round, but the French cannot between May 15 and October 1
The difference in rules creates hostility towards the British fishermen, and the French try to keep the best stock for themselves and keep UK boats out of the good areas
Despite knowing their fate, the fishermen are returning to the scene today to continue fishing
A video grab from footage taken by British fisherman being surrounded by French trawlers
This creates hostility towards the British fishermen, and the French try to keep the best stock for themselves and keep UK boats out of the good areas.
Mr Meredith added: ‘It’s a load of rubbish, we haven’t done nothing wrong. What the French were saying is a load of c**p, that our boats were fishing in the wrong place.
‘Over there, the Navy are on it and take you in if you do go into the wrong area, they track you all the time.’
Despite knowing their fate, the fishermen are returning to the scene today to continue fishing for scallops so they can earn their livelihood.
Mr Meredith added: ‘I’m going back over there today, it will happen again tonight. It will take me about ten hours to get there, I’m mentally prepared for it to happen again.
‘We don’t fight back, if we start throwing things at them then it will be our fault and not theirs.’
The attacks following similar scenes last year when Mr Meredith said he had six crew members on the Golden Promise and Joanna C who have been left ‘extremely shaken’ by an early morning attack in the English Channel.
He said his crew tried to protect themselves from objects being thrown at them – while the French Navy just stood and watched.
And he claimed one of his boats could have sunk after the watertight integrity was breached by a flying shackle during the terrifying two-hour ordeal.