Representatives of the French and UK fishing sectors have thrashed out a settlement over the scallop fishery, following several rounds of talks that had initially looked promising, before failing to reach agreement. This belated agreement will see UK scallopers leaving Eastern Channel grounds from midnight on 17th September until midnight on 31st October – applies only to those over 15 metres.
UK fisheries minister George Eustice has made a statement on the breakdown of negotiations over scallop fishing in Baie de Seine, which came to an end when the French negotiators pulled out, citing ‘extortionate’ compensation demands by the UK representatives. George Eustice stated that he has written to French minister Stephane Travert to register his disappointment that no agreement was reached.
According to French fishing industry body CNPMEM, the French industry has decided to withdraw from negotiations between France and the UK over access to scallop fisheries in the English Channel.
Representatives of the French and UK governments and their respective fishing sectors have reached an agreement following clashes that took place a week ago in the Baie de Seine between British and French fishing vessels.
According to the NFFO, the recent clashes in the Channel between UK and French fishing vessels over scallop grounds highlight a number of important issues; primarily that whatever the rights and wrongs of disputes over fishing rights, it is never admissible to resort to intimidation and violence.
According to French fishing industry body CNPMEM, the French industry has made efforts to maintain sustainable and efficient management of scallops in the Baie de Seine, the area where a skirmish between French and UK fishing vessels erupted earlier this week.
The French scallop fleet’s frustrations over the UK scallopers working grounds that remain closed to them for another month came to a head as scallop boats from ports along the Channel coast sailed to the Seine Bay to head off the UK scallopers.
Canadian company Comeau’s Sea Foods, based at Saulnierville in Nova Scotia, has placed an order with Astilleros Armon in Spain for a new 50 metre freezer scalloper to be delivered in the spring of 2020.
Fishing operator Armament Jean-Baptiste Marion, based at Grandcamp Maisy in Normandy, has gone to Piriou's Lorient yard to place an order for a new 16 metre fishing vessel designed by Coprexma to alternate scalloping and trawling.
Shetland Shellfish Management Organisation (SSMO) has welcomed Wednesday’s ruling that the judging process for the renewal of MSC status for Shetland king scallops had been carried out correctly.
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