Home Brexit French fishermen now threaten to ‘block Calais’ if ‘we don’t get what we want’

French fishermen now threaten to ‘block Calais’ if ‘we don’t get what we want’

7th May 21 11:34 am

French fishermen have now threatened to “block Calais” to prevent British trade to “land in the EU” as tensions are fast escalating.

French fishermen are demanding access to fish in British waters and in Jersey and on Thursday around 80 fishing vessels blocked St Helier port.

The British government ordered two Royal Navy warships to patrol the area in Jersey which saw a stand-off for several hours before the French fled back to Normandy.

HMS Severn and HMS Tamar were sent to patrol the territorial waters in Jersey and they are now preparing to return back to the UK.

According to ITV’s Caroline Lewis, French fishermen are “taking their fight to the UK as they threaten to blockade Calais and stop British supplies from landing in the EU.”

Lewis said speaking from St. Helier warned that the fight with the French is “far from over.”

She told Good Morning Britain, “Fishing boats may have gone but this row is far from over with neither side willing to compromise at the moment.

“With tensions running that high, it’s easy to imagine how could have escalated very quickly.”

Josh Dearing, a Jersey fisherman, said, “It was a sight to see. Seeing Royal Navy vessels and 80 French fishermen coming into our harbour.

“Some of us were worried that something could have happened.”

Lewis added, “Jersey fishermen are being blocked from landing their catch in Normandy at the moment.

“But it seems the French fishermen are taking their fight to the UK as they threaten to blockade Calais and stop British supplies from landing in the EU.

“Jersey fishermen are insisting they won’t be bullied or back down either and are planning their own protest if the government here yields.”

Olivier Lepretre, chairman of the Northern France fisheries committee, said, “The fishermen are saying that if we don’t get what we want, we will go and block Calais.”

He warned that the protest could start “within a few days” and fishing trawlers from Normandy could carry out similar action at the port of Cherbourg.

He added, “We knew that there would be problems with fishing.

“We said that a war would come from French fisheries.”

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