The French national fisheries committee CNPMEM has vowed to stage protests at the tunnel, along with the ports of Calais, Saint-Malo and Ouistreham in a move that will prove up the stakes in the increasingly bitter dispute. The action, which will take place over the course of a few hours, is intended to be symbolic and non-violent, with Downing Street urging the French authorities to not disrupt cross-Channel trade. The protests could lead to further action if the fishermen's demands are not heeded, according to the committee. The blockades are expected to hit Saint-Malo on Friday morning before moving on to Calais, the tunnel and finally Ouistreham.
The French fishermen stopped the port of St Helier in Jersey last May after the latest action came after the port of St Helier was blocked by the French fishermen. They are angry about not receiving more licences to fish in UK and Channel Islands waters under the terms of Britain's post-Brexit trade deal with the EU - the Trade and Co-operation Agreement TCA The Fisherman's Committee chairman Gerard Romiti said the attitude of British authorities was provocative and humiliating: Thousands of Britons impacted by the collapse of TWO more energy firms.
It is also coincident with the latest meeting between the European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic and the British Minister Lord Frost. The talks are going to be focused on the Northern Ireland Protocol, although the subject of fishing licences may also come up. The commission has set a December 10 deadline for the resolution of the row, and has increased pressure on the UK in the fishing dispute. The No 10 spokesman said the Government continued to engage with the commission on the subject.
He said the UK had issued almost 1,700 licences to EU boats where they could provide evidence of past fishing activity in UK waters in line with the terms of the TCA. He said that we are disappointed by threats of protest activity. It is a matter for the French to make sure that there are no illegal actions and that trade is not affected, but we continue to monitor the situation closely. He said that they continue to abide by the TCA and work with fishermen if they have any further evidence that they wish to submit as part of their application.