Navy called upon to defend UK fishing boats against French

[Clairetree1]

so what next?

the French call upon their navy to defend French fishing boats against the British navy?

French and British warships pointing guns at each other?

who would have expected that possibility to be seriously discussed on the news, even as little as 3 days ago?

British fishing boats who feel that Brexit releases them from the "gentlemans agreement" not to fish when the French are leaving scallops to breed.

French fishing boats retaliating with rocks and bottles, ramming, firing flares into British ships, "smoke bombs" ( which some are claiming were actual fire bombs) This is piracy undoubtably

British captains recommending carrying arms, to protect their crews.

Navy called on to provide protection.

The UK government needs to step in and order British ships out of these waters.

The French government needs to investigate the incidents and bring charges, with heavy prison sentences for anyone convicted.

This is ridiculous, and it needs sorting now, before things escalate.

Good point @Fishes, It may well be 'all change' and tariffs may kill off UK fishing as it could become uneconomic.

Well, us and the Americans (or, if you are in the US, just the Americans).

Let's not forget the Polish Bomber squadrons and all the others.

This all does rather look like the British boats ruining the scallop beds before they will no longer be allowed to after B-Day.

well, we will have closed seasons, or we will have no fishing industry...

I know where my moneys going. (And I pointed that out upthread).

You'll get token quotas, of course. Policed by the people who stand to lose if they are enforced. Punishment will be token (if at all). And DS(currently 22 single no kids) children can read the history of the British Fishing Industry in their primary school classes. Maybe along with pictures of what bananas looked like (bendy, of course )

Let's not forget the Polish Bomber squadrons and all the others.

Growing up in the shadow of the Polish War Memorial, I'm ashamed to have to be prompted on that .

I think there was something in the Chequers plan about controlling fishing in our own waters but still having tariff-free access to sell the catch in the EU.

I can just see that happening.

The departure of the Banana is on the cards but nothing to do with Brexit.

The departure of the Banana is on the cards but nothing to do with Brexit.

No. But would stand as a testament to how homo sapiens is acting like a nasty little virus on planet earth, and **ing up ecosystems left right and centre. Maybe it's abandoning religion which has led to us failing to recognise our insignificance in the scheme of things ?

The African matoke (spelling?) is pretty 'bananaish' but smaller and not quite as 'in bred' as the Cavendish. It is the lack of diversification in concentrating in this one 'strain' that means if/when it gets a virus it will all be wiped out. There is a message here about diversification of course!

There is a message here about diversification of course!

The message being it costs money, and is to be avoided ...

some people in Europe are unhappy at having their lives disrupted and made more expensive by the UK being a complete arse.

Why is it the job of the British people to make the lives of the French easier, and cheaper!?

@Rage
You obviously aren't thinking this through.
The UK Brexit is incurring MASSIVE costs and disruption to all in the EU and in the UK. NONE of it was necessary if the so called 'leavers' had applied any thought to whether the EU actually impacted their lives negatively. The fact that no 'leavers' have yet managed to state exactly what 'bad' things the EU was doing to them as an individual speaks volumes.
If someone comes and takes 5 quid out of your purse 'just because they want to' then you might get a bit annoyed.

I’m still convinced it had a lot to do with the media publishing photos of hundreds of migrants attempting to reach the U.K. People felt a lack of confidence in the countries who had waved them through, and concern that they would get EU passports and just be able to walk straight in. I heard many people refer to economic consequences as “the price we have to pay to stop the migrants”.

I believe it has been shown that Germany, who accepted many tens of thousands if migrants has benefited significantly from their arrival.
It is obvious that huge numbers arriving en masse. largely trying to escape war would cause a problem. It could have been handled a LOT better but it is difficult to plan as it was an ongoing situation and there was no indication how many would attempt to move.
The real solution would be to make their homeland safe and attractive to live in as I am sure not many REALLY have their life's ambition to live in a council house in Milton Keynes on benefits.
Perhaps the EU should have shouted more about the work they are doing to try and suppress the warring factions.
Sorry, this has nothing to do with fish although it might be possible to flog/give old fishing boats to migrants so they can move nearer home and start their own businesses fishing.

@BigBlueBubble

That is not what happened at all, and it is deeply worrying that people have been misinformed.

This is worth a read to understand better a complex subject but essentially one of the major problems was UK boats selling their quotas to foreign companies.

blogs.lse.ac.uk/brexit/2016/06/10/dont-blame-the-eu-for-the-decline-in-some-british-fishing-ports/

Thanks SoloD
That report also says that it is significant that Britain is using bigger boats to bring in their catches leaving the smaller traditional boats at North Shields for example behind.

The problem with the fishing industry in this country is that the general public don't actually like to eat fish unless it is battered , pink or out of a tin.
DH is from a fishing community ( a big one ) and he describes the stuff that you could get at the fish and chip shop , like skate wings , whiting as a couple of examples.
We go on holiday to the south west every year and the local chippy does a catch of the day that is bought mainly by locals , us incomers preferring the 'known' cod and haddock.

It does seem interesting that for a country literally surrounded by fish that we eat so few varieties.
The idea of 'catch of the day' seems great and logical, rather than throwing injured fish back into the sea, simply eat all you have caught.

For those talking about 'foreign' crews. With the insinuation the other countries of the EU are talking everything from the UK. Northern Ireland's fishing boats are largely crewed by Filipino fisherman.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-14713750

In Ireland as well. There are allegations of abuse for these non-EU workers in Ireland. It would be interesting to see if there are reports of this abuse in the fishing industry in the UK and other EU countries.

www.theguardian.com/global development/2015/nov/02/revealed-trafficked-migrant-workers-abused-in-irish-fishing-industry

Yes, unfortunately there are reports of abuse in NI, too.

www.marineconservationnorthernireland.co.uk/?p=179

“Why is it the job of the British people to make the lives of the French easier, and cheaper!?”

It’s the job of the British to stop behaving like spoilt toddlers, embarrassing themselves and their country.

rather than throwing injured fish back into the sea, simply eat all you have caught
The EU doesn’t understand logic though. Fish get thrown back because they’re “not the right species” that the boat is permitted to catch. In some cases 80% of fish get thrown back.

The EU does understand logic. Maybe if Mr Farage as MEP for fish had applied the brain he has, and thought about conservation of the fish that EVERYBODY wants, rather spending time wherever else there could have been a sensible debate. The EU can and does change, a bit too slowly perhaps but it does. The world HAS to become less wasteful and rather than simply dumping 'by products', actually find a use for them.
The UK throwing it's rattle out of the pram because it can't be bothered to negotiate like a grown up is pathetic.

The Royal Navy does protect the U.K. fishing grounds. Two ships work year round ensuring trawlers in U.K. waters and shared waters are only catching big enough fish. The use tiny ribs in the middle of the North Sea to chase and board trawlers (a somewhat exhilarating ride in 30 ft waves, I’m told).

Why do they have to throw back fish that are too small? Why are they prosecuted for nets that are too fine? To discourage overfishing of immature fish that can’t then breed and maintain fish stocks. The Royal Navy does act against non British boats in exacthe same way as British boats.
They don’t have the right to enter and act within French waters and to do so would most definitely be an act of warfare/aggression. Not really somewe need in these tense times.
The French don’t mind small British boats catching scallops. They mind industrial scale fishing by bigger boats that destroy the fishing grounds and decimate the stock.

I have wondered if this incursion by bigger boats is a concerted pro- Brexit attack financed by some of the usual dodgy suspects.

I have wondered if this incursion by bigger boats is a concerted pro- Brexit attack financed by some of the usual dodgy suspects

A reverse of how the Israeli ambassador predicted the USSR would begin to invade Europe ("Yes Prime Minister"). "Salami tactics".

Ambassador: ^The phone could ring tomorrow."
Hacker: "Uh ?"
(phone rings, Bernard answers)
Ambassador: "It could be NATO headquarters !"
Bernard: "Prime Minister, it's NATO headquarters."
Hacker (startled) "Huh !"
Bernard: "They wonder if you'll address the next meeting ...."

(An episode that plays on the UKs Israeli stance, as I recall).