The decision by the UK authorities to implement marine protected areas is set to have far-reaching implcations for French fishing.
The EU Commission was notified of these closures in the Celtic Sea, the North Sea and the English Channel, in February this year and the measures took effect on 22nd March, excluding vessels fishing with towed gears from these grounds.
‘The British government justifies this decision as strengthening the level of protection of the marine environment, within the framework of its Environmental Improvement Plan,’ said Olivier Lepretre, president of the Hauts-de-France fisheries committee which represents fishermen from Boulogne and other ports at the eastern end of the Channel.
He commented that representatives of the Hauts-de-France and Normandy regional fisheries committees have warned the French authorities of the serious economic impact these measures would have on French vessels operating in the Channel, the North Sea and the Celtic Sea.
‘The effects could be considerable,’ he said, adding that the outcome could be reduced landings and smaller volumes reaching the processing sector.
‘We have already been hit hard by the successive Brexit crises, the Covid-19 pandemic and rising energy prices, so this new unilateral restriction could signal the end of our already very weakened fishing sector, not least as new unilateral measures could be taken in the next few months,’ he said.
‘This raises concerns about challenges for the renegotiation of the EU-UK cooperation and trade agreement in 2026. The French Government must address this European-wide issue without delay and commit to defending unreservedly the interests of our fishermen. Other Member States whose fishing fleets are affected by these measures must move decisively and quickly to oppose their implementation.’
Olivier Lepretre said that the European Commission must react without delay to the unilateral measures taken by the United Kingdom to oppose the implementation of what he described as discriminatory restrictions decided by the UK.
