LE HAVRE: Britain denounced France’s seizure of a British boat in French waters and warned Paris against further retaliation on Thursday, in a rapidly deteriorating row over post-Brexit fishing rights.

French Seas Minister Annick Girardin said the Cornelis Gert Jan, a scallop dredger, was escorted to the northern port of Le Havre overnight after its crew failed to prove it was allowed to fish in French territorial waters. A second British vessel was given a verbal warning.

The action signalled France’s determination not to back down in the row, a day after listing potential sanctions against Britain if there is no progress in talks.

They include extra customs checks on British goods from Nov 2 and what was widely seen in London as a threat to cut electricity exports to Britain if talks fail.

“It’s not war, but it is a fight,” Girardin told RTL radio.

British fishing grounds are among the richest in the North East Atlantic zone, where most of the European Union’s catch is hauled in.

France’s actions appear intended as a warning shot to put pressure on Britain to compromise at talks with the EU.

The British government said the French reaction was “disappointing and disproportionate, and not what we would expect from a close ally and partner”.

Environment minister George Eustice challenged France’s statement that the boat had no licence, and told parliament the steps threatened by France appeared to be incompatible with a post-Brexit free-trade agreement and wider international law.

“...if carried through, (they) will be met with an appropriate and calibrated response,” he said.

France says Britain has refused to grant its fishermen the full number of licences to operate in British waters that France says is warranted, though Britain says it is issuing licences to vessels that meet its criteria.

“So now we need to speak the language of strength since that seems to be the only thing this British government understands,” European Affairs Minister Clement Beaune told CNews television channel.

Girardin made clear France could not cut off electricity supplies to Britain as a retaliatory measure but said it could raise tariffs. Britain was importing about 6 per cent of its electricity supply from France on Thursday, data showed.

Additional customs checks on goods travelling between Britain and the rest of Europe could disrupt trade flows before Christmas.

Published in Dawn, October 29th, 2021