Britain angers France over fishing boat licences

Britain angers France over fishing boat licences

Source: rte

9/28/2021

Britain angers France over fishing boat licences

Britain said today it will grant 12 out of 47 applications for new licences to small boats from the European Union to fish in its territorial waters, enraging France.

French fisherman have become increasingly angry over how Britain has controlled access for EU boats into its waters after it exited the bloc.

London says it has pursued a "reasonable approach", issuing nearly 1,700 licences to EU boats to fish in Britain's exclusive economic zone, which is defined as being 12-200 miles from the coast.

A total of 117 have been issued for the 6-12 mile zone.

"As regards the 6-12 mile zone..., EU vessels must provide evidence of a track record of fishing activity in those waters," the British government said in a statement Tuesday.