A British fishing vessel is said to have “deliberately chased” a French fishing vessel into English waters on the night of January 14-15. Xavier Bertrand wrote to Agnès Pannier-Runacher to demand the opening of an investigation.
The president of the Hauts-de-France Region, Xavier Betrand, wrote to the Minister of Ecological Transition and the Sea Agnès Pannier-Runacher to alert her to “alarming” facts which concern an “attack” of a French fishing vessel off the coast of the French coast.
The events took place on the night of January 14 to 15. The Channel and North Sea Maritime Prefecture confirms that a fishing incident occurred between the “Henk Senior”, a British fishing vessel, and the “Rose de Cascia”, a 20 meter long trawler in English waters.
“An incident of exceptional seriousness”
The French shipowner filed a complaint and an investigation was opened by the Boulogne-sur-Mer police force. Xavier Bertrand reports that the British trawler attacked the French ship in order to “drive it from its working area at the risk of the lives of the crew”. He deplores an “incident of exceptional gravity”.
“These events cannot be tolerated,” continues Xavier Bertrand. He thus calls for the “immediate” opening of an in-depth investigation in order to shed light on the facts described and “the exact responsibilities and circumstances of the incident”.
-The elected official also calls for a hearing of the British ship as well as a “firm and exemplary” condemnation of the people responsible.
“It is also essential that measures are taken to prevent any risk of escalation and guarantee the safety of our sailors. The current situation highlights a critical threshold crossed. If strong measures are not taken quickly, an irreparable tragedy could arise”, warns Xavier Bertrand in his letter.
Cohabitation between French and English fishermen off the Channel coast has already been a source of tension in recent months. In March 2024, the LR president of the Hauts-de-France region denounced the United Kingdom’s ban on fishing in 13 British marine protected areas off the French coast, which according to him would sign “the death warrant ” regional fleets.
