In a strongly-worded letter to France’s Minister of Ecological Transition and Fisheries, President of the Hauts de France region Xavier Bertrand is demanding an immediate investigation into a clash between two fishing vessels in the Straits of Dover this week.
The crew of UK-flagged, Urk-owned seine netter Henk Senior are accused of hostile actions towards Boulogne seiner Rose de Cascia in an incident that Xavier Bertrand describes as being ‘of exceptional gravity’ and as crossing a ‘critical threshold.’
Reports are that the 30-metre Henk Senior’s crew grappled the 19-metre Rose de Cascia’s seine rope, hauling the French vessel backwards before the seine rope parted. Rose de Cascia was able to retrieve its gear.
He states that this goes significantly further than the usual problems of co-operation between fishermen in the wake of Brexit, and that this incident is an example of ‘the tensions in the Pas-de-Calais region since Brexit and the reduction in fishing areas.’
In his letter to the Minister, who recently paid a visit to Boulogne, Xavier Bertrand is demanding strong measures, including an immediate inquiry to establish the circumstances of the incident, for statements to be taken from the crew of Henk Senior as soon as it docks, and for the vessel’s actions to be the subject of unequivocal public condemnation.
There is nothing new about tensions between fishermen from Boulogne and the Dutch-owned seine netters operating in the Eastern Channel during the winter months. Earlier this year, a gentlemen’s agreement regulating the fishery was signed by the French and Belgian fishermen’s organisations, and by Dutch industry bodies – although some of the Dutch fishermen refused to participate.
This clash between a Dutch (UK-flagged) seiner and a French fishing vessel takes the tension to a new level.
The local fishermen’s organisation in the Hauts de France region is waiting for a response from the Ministry.
