French fishermen block British boat off St Malo amid licences row

French fishermen block British boat off St Malo amid licences row

/ Europe

















Issued on: 26/11/2021 - 11:35





















French fishermen block the 'Normandy Trader' boat at the port of Saint-Malo, France, November 26, 2021. © Stephane Mahe, Reuters











French fishermen blocked a British cargo vessel from docking in a Brittany port on Friday, in protest at what they say are moves by authorities in London and Jersey to withhold licences to fish in British waters under a post-Brexit deal. 









The fishermen held aloft red flares as they circled their boats outside Saint-Malo to block the Normandy Trader's path - a prelude to a planned blockade later on Friday of Calais and the Channel Tunnel, both major transport hubs for trade between Britain and continental Europe.

The one-hour Saint-Malo protest and the larger action further east along France's coast risk reigniting a dispute between the two countries over a mutual licensing system for fishing vessels.

They are also embroiled in a row over cross-Channel migration.

With Britain's exit from the European Union, the two sides agreed to set up a licensing