French authorities have been condemned for detaining two British fishing boats in the same week the Prime Minister was heavily criticised and accused of "surrendering" UK fishing rights to the EU.
In the latest enforcement operation, the French Maritime Prefecture confirmed that a French patrol vessel had intercepted and seized a UK trawler off the Baie de Somme in the English Channel.
The incident happened on Thursday, just hours after a record number of 825 small boat migrants had crossed illegally into UK waters.
The move has infuriated local fishermen who operate in the Channel.
Francesca TO 80 (right) was seized and taken to Brest and Lady T - believed to be latest vessel seized and taken to Boulogne
GB News
One skipper, based out of Dover told GB News: "This is outrageous. It is so typical of the French.
"They should be totally focused on trying to prevent the daily illegal incursions by migrants into the Channel.
"Instead, we're seeing record numbers of illegals crossing into UK waters, escorted by French patrols.
"And the only actual enforcement work they're doing is targeting British fisherman."
A Maritime Prefecture spokesperson said: "The French Navy's public service patrol boat, the Pluvier carried out a fishing check in the French Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), off the Baie de Somme.
"During this operation, which is part of the State's action at sea, a British fishing vessel was checked by the sailors of the Navy patrol boat while it was fishing, without a licence, in French waters.
"As the offence was serious, the fishing vessel was diverted to the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer for the purpose of initiating proceedings under the authority of the public prosecutor."
A GB News maritime source said the vessel detained is believed to be the Lady T, a small catamaran fishing boat, based out of Eastbourne.
The seizure comes just days after Starmer was heavily criticised over a landmark deal with the EU over fishing rights
PAMarine tracking apps currently show that boat tied up in Boulogne harbour.
The track of the vessel's course and activities show it was in the Bai de Somme fishing grounds over the past few days.
The seizure comes just days after Starmer was heavily criticised over a landmark deal with the EU over fishing rights.
European trawlers will now be granted access to British waters for a further 12 years under the new agreement, which has been condemned by the majority of UK fishermen.
Less than 48 hours before that deal, another British fishing boat was seized by the French.
The Francesca TO 80 was intercepted 30 nautical miles off the island of Batz, suspected of fishing without the required licence.
The vessel was taken to the French port of Brest, where it remains tied up today.
