New rebound in the Franco-British battle for fishing.
The Minister of the Sea, Annick Girardin, on Sunday assured the fishermen of Hauts-de-France of her desire to "
continue the fight
" against London on post-Brexit fishing rights, after her statements which had aroused great anger this week .
Read also Post-Brexit fishing: "The government lets our profession die out"
Thursday, hundreds of fishermen had shouted at the fiasco and renunciation when the minister had mentioned, during the Assises de la Pêche, a compensation plan for the French boats which would remain at the quayside at the end of the negotiations. A plan which hinted at a retreat of France in this conflict which has been stretching for nearly a year between Paris and London. "
We will continue the fight as announced,
" she said after the meeting this Sunday at Cape Gris-Nez, in Pas-de-Calais. "
We fight every day for these boats, for these licenses and we will not let go at all,
" she added. Friday, Emmanuel Macron had already tried to reassure the fishermen. "
We will not let go of our fishermen
" and "
before Christmas, France will have taken a position,
”he said.
If, according to Annick Girardin,
"80% of cases"
are now settled with
"more than 960 licenses"
granted, around 150 French boats are still awaiting authorizations to set their nets in British waters.
As a result, fishermen's representatives have indicated that they remain committed to putting in place measures to express their dissatisfaction.
“
The fishermen will move.
I believe they have been patient enough.
They
've been
waiting for eleven months
, ”said Olivier Leprêtre, president of the Hauts-de-France regional fisheries committee.
