Sharjah24 – AFP: Britain on Thursday summoned the French ambassador to explain "threats" made over post-Brexit fishing rights, hours after France's Prime Minister Jean Castex offered to open talks to resolve the increasingly bitter row.
The two sides are at loggerheads over licensing rules for EU boats wanting to operate in waters around Britain and the Channel Islands.
France has been incensed by the rejection of its vessels by Britain and the self-governing islands of Jersey and Guernsey, which depend on London for defence and foreign affairs.
Castex said he was "always open to talks", but hours later UK foreign minister Liz Truss tweeted that she had called in the French envoy to explain "disproportionate threats made against the UK and Channel Islands".
France has warned that continued denial of licences would lead to retaliatory measures as soon as next week, including time-consuming checks on all products and a ban on UK vessels landing seafood.
French authorities also fined two British boats fishing for scallops during checks on Wednesday, with one detained at Le Havre.
"This isn't a war, but it's a fight. French fishermen have rights, a deal was signed and we must implement this deal," Maritime Minister Annick Girardin said.
More than 200 French fishermen are waiting for licences to ply waters between six and 12 miles from British shores, and in particular around Jersey, according to French officials.
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