Fishermen in France threaten to block Eurotunnel in protest

British and French fishermen fight over English Channel scallops 0:40

(CNN) -

French fishermen have said they will block access to the Channel Tunnel and Channel ports in northern France on Friday in protest of post-Brexit fishing rights.

In a statement posted on a Facebook group of fishermen on Thursday, they said they would block ferries in Saint-Malo, Calais and Ouistreham "to denounce the conditions of the Brexit deal and its consequences for fishermen."

• France detains UK fishing boat as dispute over fishing rights flares

The head of a fishermen's association told CNN that a protest would begin at 1 pm local time in Ouistreham and that 15 boats would block the port in the area.

He said other groups would blockade two other areas.

The image shows the platform of the train that crosses the Eurotunnel, which connects the north of France with Folkestone, in Great Britain.

(Credit: PHILIPPE HUGUEN / AFP / Getty Images)

Fishermen's "warning" reaches the Eurotunnel

The fishermen said they were sending "a warning" to demand the swift UK granting of post-Brexit fishing licenses.

"We don't want handouts, we just want our licenses back. The UK must abide by the post-Brexit deal. Too many fishermen remain unanswered," said Gérard Romiti, chairman of the national sea fishing committee, according to CNN affiliate BFMTV.

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The fishermen's association told a virtual press conference that a large number of vehicles would be used to block access to the Eurotunnel, which is used to move goods by rail between Britain and France, according to Reuters.

UK government is 'disappointed' by protest

The UK government responded on Thursday saying it was "disappointed" by the threats of protests from French fishermen.

Fishing boats leave the port of Calais on January 25, 2018.

"We hope that the French authorities will ensure that there are no illegal actions and that trade is not affected," said a Downing Street spokesman.

"We have licensed almost 1,700 European Union vessels in total; our approach to licensing has been reasonable and fully in line with our commitments in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (ATT)."

"We are continuing to work with the Commission and the French authorities and will study any other evidence that is provided to support the remaining license applications," he concluded.

The protests represent the latest round of tensions in a long-running dispute between the UK and France over the rights of French and British vessels to fish in each country's waters after Brexit.

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