UK and France reach truce over fishing licence dispute

9 comments
  1. **(1)**

    The UK and France’s bitter dispute over fishing rights appears to have ended after the EU fishing commissioner praised the “successful and constructive relationship” between London and Brussels.

    Virginijus Sinkevicius said that almost all licences requested by French boats to work in waters off the UK since it left the bloc had been granted, with around 70 permits outstanding.

    “The commission fully intends to continue building a successful and constructive relationship with the UK. We managed to achieve most of the licences that have been requested,” he said in an interview with the Financial Times.

    A feud between the two countries over the right to fish waters close to Britain started after the UK left the EU in 2020, requiring a new settlement over access to waters shared for centuries.

    The Brexit deal signed in 2020 ensured the UK’s share of fishing quotas in its waters increased by 25 per cent between 2021-6. But in territorial waters, 6-12 miles from the coast, London agreed to allow French vessels which had previously fished there to continue.

  2. Seems like “fishing war” is over anyway. Seems compromises were made on both sides, with French fisherman getting 80 of the 150 contested licenses remaining.

    Hopefully suggests thaw in relations, would be useful for unity in wake of the war. Although still have the sticky matter of the NIP

  3. I just hope in 2026 we tell all of the EU fishermen and UK fishermen they can’t fish anymore. It’s time to give our waters a rest.

  4. >Virginijus Sinkevicius said that almost all licences requested by French boats to work in waters off the UK since it left the bloc had been granted, with around 70 permits outstanding.

    >On a visit to Brittany last week, Macron said the French government had kept its promise to protect its fishermen and 90 per cent of licences had been retained. Meanwhile, a British official noted: “We haven’t heard anything from France for weeks. The dispute has gone quiet.”

    >Sinkevicius brokered talks between both sides in November and the number of outstanding permits has since dropped to around 70. All licences granted in 2021 have been renewed for 2022, he said, with a few additional permits obtained from the UK.

    Bien.

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