Navy must protect fishermen in English Channel, urges MLA
THE DUP has called for the Royal Navy to be sent in after French fishermen attacked British vessels in an extraordinary clash over scallops in the English Channel.
Rocks, smoke bombs and other projectiles were allegedly hurled at English and Scottish vessels during the confrontation in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Around a dozen British boats were targeted by the rival flotilla in a protest over fishing rights in the scallop-rich waters.
The government said it had contacted officials in France about the matter, adding that the vessels were “legally entitled” to fish in the area.
DUP MLA Edwin Poots called on the government to take urgent action to protect UK fishermen in international waters.
“UK trawlers fishing for scallops in the English Channel have been attacked with fire bombs by disgruntled French fishermen,” he said.
“This is outrageous and has endangered the lives of fishermen who are carrying out their legitimate business.
“The government must immediately deploy the services of the Royal Navy to protect its citizens and ensure that under maritime law the individuals engaged in mob law are prosecuted.
“As the UK exits the EU and takes control of its rich fishing waters, it will be essential that maritime law is upheld.
“If they cannot respond to this flagrant breach of the law so close to the naval base at Portsmouth, then fishermen will rightly be concerned that they
are not interested in protecting UK waters and more importantly UK citizens working in those waters.”
The South Western Fish Producers Organisation, which represents many of the boats and has been negotiating with French fishermen, condemned the behaviour as dangerous.
Chief executive Jim Portus said: “They are endangering life at sea by being unprofessional.
“The French might look like heroes to the French coastal communities but it’s really awful to put other mariners in danger.”
Around 40 French boats were said to be responsible for the disruption.
One of the British ships, The Golden Promise, had a window smashed by an airborne can, while another suffered fire damage after a flare was thrown at it, Mr Portus said.