A British fishing boat has been seized by French authorities and detained at the port of Boulogne, accused of operating illegally in French waters without a licence.

The vessel, intercepted on Thursday night in the English Channel by the French Navy’s patrol ship Pluvier, is now subject to a potential prosecution by France’s fisheries authorities.

The French Coastguard stated that the interception followed routine inspections, with the British crew allegedly caught fishing without proper authorisation. The vessel has been impounded pending investigation, and is currently barred from leaving port.

The incident has sparked a political row, with UK government critics accusing France of hypocrisy. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp slammed the French for “shameful double standards”, claiming they ignore illegal migrant crossings but act swiftly on a British fishing boat. “If the French can now intercept boats, then they should start stopping the boats with illegal immigrants – as international law obliges them to do,” he said.

The seizure comes just days after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer faced sharp criticism from British fishermen over his “reset” deal with the European Union. The agreement includes provisions allowing EU fishing vessels to continue accessing British waters for another 12 years, a move opponents within the Conservatives and Reform UK have labelled a “surrender”.

The UK Foreign Office confirmed it is offering support to a British national in France and is in contact with local authorities. A government spokesperson declined further comment, citing the ongoing French investigation.

While the Liberal Democrats have welcomed aspects of the broader UK-EU accord as a step towards mending relations, the dispute over fishing rights continues to expose fraught tensions beneath the surface of post-Brexit diplomacy.

Follow us on: