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Fish wars as Devon boats under attack by rival French scallopers
DevonLive ^ | 14 OCT 2020 | John Bett & Colleen Smith

Posted on 10/14/2020 10:45:42 AM PDT by nickcarraway

One of the Brixham boats was under attack as 15 boats surrounded him

Fish wars have broken out in the English Channel as French scallopers confronted their Devon counterparts - firing flares and throwing FRYING PANS.

Two Brixham boats, the Girl Macey, skippered by Scott Glover, and the Golden Promise, by Brian Whittington, were involved in the deep-sea skirmish last night.

They were surrounded by around 20 French vessels and were pelted by objects including frying pans and rocks and a dangerous flare was fired into the wheelhouse of the Girl Macy. The hostile French crews also threw oil at the Brixham boat.

The outbreak of violence has sparked fears of loss of life if hostilities keep worsening each year.

Brian 'Winkle' Whittington, 43, skipper of the Golden Promise, said: "I was expecting it this time, they only do it in the dark.

"We can't use the radio when they do it as they just talk over us instantly, so I couldn't check on Scott to see how he was.

"We were about two miles apart and I had two or three boats around me. Scott had 15 around him, they were throwing oil at him and firing flares.

"I was mentally prepared for it, I knew it was going to happen again."

And Derek Meredith, a fishermen from Brixham and owner of the Golden Promise, believes that tensions are heightening in the channel.

He said that this incident could have easily resulted in a death, as the flare could have set the Gal Macey on fire.

Derek said: "When I heard about it I was very concerned, if that flare went into the wheel house the boat would have burned up, and would the French have helped?

"The boat would sink and the French would just leave our boys to drown.

"They shouldn't be doing what they're doing but they seem to get away with it every year."

Derek also called on the Royal Navy to help British fishermen, saying they were routinely attacked while doing their jobs.

He said that despite growing tensions and worsening conflict, nothing is done and his crew are left to fend for themselves.

He added: "They act very aggressively, they do every year.

"Last year they smashed our windows and stuff and nothing happened - they get away with it every year.

"The fishermen were surrounding out boats and throwing things at them, it's the same as last year.

"They pull in front of the fishing boat so it has to drop out of gear, and they will then chaperone you to the area where they want you to fish."

Tensions have been growing each year due to a difference in fishing restrictions between the UK and France.

British scallopers are allowed to fish year round, but the French are not permitted to fish between May 15 and October 1.

This creates hostility towards the British fishermen, and the French try to keep the best stock for themselves and keep UK boats out of the good areas.

Derek added: "It's a load of rubbish, we haven't done nothing wrong.

"What the French were saying is a load of crap, that our boats were fishing in the wrong place.

"Over there, the Navy are on it and take you in if you do go into the wrong area, they track you all the time."

Despite knowing their fate, the fishermen are returning to the scene today to continue fishing for scallops so they can earn their livelihood.

Brian added: "I'm going back over there today, it will happen again tonight. It will take me about ten hours to get there, I'm mentally prepared for it to happen again.

"We don't fight back, if we start throwing things at them then it will be our fault and not theirs."

The attacks following similar scenes last year when Derek said he had six crew members on the Golden Promise and Joanna C who have been left ''extremely shaken'' by an early morning attack in the English Channel.

He said his crew tried to protect themselves from objects being thrown at them - while the French Navy just stood and watched.

And he claimed one of his boats could have sank after the water tight integrity was breached by a flying shackle during the terrifying two hour ordeal.


TOPICS: Food; Outdoors
KEYWORDS: england; englishchannel; fishing; france; geopolitics; scallops
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To: nickcarraway

21 posted on 10/14/2020 11:49:00 AM PDT by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now its your turn)
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To: nickcarraway

Amateurs. The Oyster Wars in the Chesapeake and Potomac were for real.


22 posted on 10/14/2020 12:12:44 PM PDT by IndispensableDestiny
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To: katana

Yah the article seems to imply that it’s happening on British fishing grounds but the map shows otherwise.


23 posted on 10/14/2020 1:05:06 PM PDT by BiteYourSelf
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To: nickcarraway

As John McEnroe would say: F—king French Frog Fags!


24 posted on 10/14/2020 1:15:48 PM PDT by who_would_fardels_bear
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