French and British fishermen agree to end 'Scallop Wars'

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Europe

French and British fishermen agreed Monday to end their battle over access to scallop-rich waters in the English Channel, three weeks after the long-simmering conflict flared into a high-seas confrontation.

The new deal is hoped to bring to a close the years-long "Scallop Wars" over fishing the prized molluscs in the fertile waters off the Baie de Seine area of Normandy in northwest France.

Tensions boiled over late last month when dozens of French boats confronted a handful of British rivals in the waters to keep them from the area, with a few vessels ramming others as angry French fishermen threw stones and smoke-bombs.

French and British fishing boats collide during scrap in the English Channel over scallop fishing rights, August 28, 2018. /VCG Photo

"We managed to get an agreement. Tonight at midnight, they (the British fishermen) will leave the area in the Channel's east and will only return on November 1," French industry representative Pascal Coquet said.

The French side had hoped to end a loophole that exempts British boats smaller than 15 meters (50 foot) long, giving them first dibs at one of the main scallop sources off the French coast before the official season.

"We were forced to drop the 15-meter requirement," Coquet said, because time was running out as British boats were "ravaging" the fishing stocks.

"It is in order to avoid catastrophe. They fish everything and there are other altercations," Coquet said, adding that he is satisfied with the compromise even it came "a little late."

The French side also agreed to give the British fishermen an additional fishing quota, he said.

Jim Portus, the chief executive of Britain's South Western Fish Producers Organisation, agreed it was "a compromise."

"It's not the best deal... but it's better than no deal," Portus said.

Britain's Fisheries Minister George Eustice commended the UK fishing industry for "its patience throughout negotiations and welcome this pragmatic outcome."

The deal came after weeks of bitter negotiations between representatives of both sides.

The issue has become even more sensitive given the uncertain future of arrangements for fishing in the area after Britain leaves the EU in March 2019, particularly if the UK has to quit without securing a withdrawal deal.

(Cover: Scallops on sale at a market in Paris /VCG Photo)

Source(s): AFP