This archive report was first published on 28 October 2021.
Published on October 28, 2021, Britain's fishing dispute with France escalated further, with French officials threatening measures targeting British fish exports.
Environment Secretary George Eustice told parliament that he had spoken to EU Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius and stressed the importance of remaining calm and de-escalating the situation.
French officials on Wednesday, October 27, threatened measures targeting British fish exports from November 2, including time-consuming customs and sanitary checks on products brought to France, and a ban on landing seafood.
Europe Minister Clement Beaune also warned that extra checks could be extended to other merchandise crossing the Channel, potentially endangering Britain's main trading gateway to the continent.
Paris has also threatened to cut electricity supplies to Jersey, which is also in French sights over the granting of fishing licences.
Responding to the French threats, Eustice said, “The UK government will stand squarely behind Jersey on this matter.”
He reiterated a UK statement that the French threats were “disappointing and disproportionate” and vowed an “appropriate and calibrated response”.
Britain has granted licenses to 1,673 EU vessels to fish in its exclusive economic zone, including 736 French vessels, since Brexit took full effect at the start of the year.
Of these, 121 EU boats have been licensed to fish six to 12 miles off the UK coast, including 103 French vessels.
Britain has granted 98 percent of EU applications, Eustice said, vowing to continue “constructive negotiations” with both Brussels and Paris.
