English Channel scallop fishing dispute

{{Infobox civil conflict

| title = English Channel scallop fishing dispute

| partof =

| image =

| caption =

| date = 10 October 2012 or 8 October 2012
28 August 2018
13 October 2020

| place = {{convert|15|nmi|km}} off the coast of Le Havre, France.

| coordinates =

| causes = Different fishing restrictions on British and French scallop fishing.
French fishermen claim the British boats were within the {{convert|12|nmi|km|adj=on}} fishing exclusion zone around the coast.

| goals = To prevent British fishermen fishing for scallops.

| methods =

| result =

| side1 = British scallop fishermen

| side2 = French scallop fishermen

| leadfigures1 =

| leadfigures2 =

| howmany1 = 5 trawlers

| howmany2 = 40 boats

| casualties1 =3 trawlers damaged

| casualties2 =2 boats damaged

| casualties3 =

| casualties_label =

| notes =

}}

File:Carte de la Manche.png

The English Channel scallop fishing dispute, also called the Great Scallop War or guerre de la coquille, occurred on 10 October 2012{{cite web|url=http://news.sky.com/story/996267/scallop-war-french-pelt-british-fishermen |title=Scallop War: French 'Pelt' British Fishermen |publisher=News.sky.com |date=11 October 2012 |accessdate=21 October 2012}} or 8 October 2012,{{cite news|last=Sawer|first=Patrick|title=Scallop wars: an uneasy ceasefire as fishermen await the next salvo|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/9622825/Scallop-wars-an-uneasy-ceasefire-as-fishermen-await-the-next-salvo.html|accessdate=21 October 2012|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=21 October 2012|location=London}} between British and French fishermen in the Channel {{convert|24|km|mi}} off the coast of Le Havre, France.{{cite news |author=Harvey |first=Fiona |author-link=Fiona Harvey |date=10 October 2012 |title=British fishermen attacked by French boats in the Channel | Environment |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/oct/10/british-fishermen-attacked-french-channel |accessdate=21 October 2012 |work=The Guardian |location=London}} The dispute arose because of a difference in fishing restrictions between the two countries. British scallop fishers are allowed to fish for scallops year round, whilst French scallop fishers are not permitted to fish between 15 May and 1 October each year.{{cite web|last=Hinnant |first=Lori |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/49375405/ns/us_news-environment/t/scallop-spat-uk-french-fishermen-catch-clash/ |title=Scallop spat: UK, French fishermen in catch clash – US news – Environment |publisher=MSNBC |date=11 October 2012 |accessdate=21 October 2012}}{{dead link|date=August 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Other confrontations took place in the same area on 28 August 2018 and 13 October 2020.

2012

Approximately 20 French fishing boats surrounded five British fishing boats and, according to the British fishermen, tried to ram the British boats, throwing rocks and nets and attempting to damage their propellers and engines.{{cite web|url=http://fis.com/fis/worldnews/worldnews.asp?monthyear=10-2012&day=12&id=56063&l=e&country=&special=&ndb=1&df=0 |title=Worldnews – French and British dispute over scallop fishing |publisher=FIS |date=12 October 2012 |accessdate=21 October 2012}} French fishermen claim their actions were in response to the British boats being inside the European Union's Common Fisheries Policy {{convert|19|km|mi}} fishing exclusion zone; British fishermen deny that they were within the exclusion zone.

The British Marine Management Organisation informed French authorities; the French Navy intervened and a meeting took place between the French and British fishermen to resolve the dispute.

2018

On 28 August, 35 French fishing boats tried to prevent several British fishing vessels from catching sea scallops off the Normandy coast.[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-45337091 Scallop war: French and British boats clash in Channel] Violence began when three large British trawlers were chased by the French fishing boats. British trawlers Golden Promise and Joanna C were damaged after being rammed and hit by stones, metal shackles, petrol bombs and rocket flares, and were eventually forced to seek shelter at Brixham. Scottish dredger Honeybourne III attempted to ram a number of French boats after a fire erupted on board; three French vessels were also damaged. The Scottish trawler eventually docked at Shoreham. The violence was condemned by both British and French officials. Talks started on 5 September but by 12 September had failed to conclude, owing to British and French intransigence.[https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/minister-eustice-oral-statement-on-scallops Minister Eustice Oral Statement on Scallops]{{Cite news|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/world/battle-for-the-scallop-french-and-british-vessels-ram-each-other-as-seamen-hurl-rocket-flares-over-fishing-rights|title=Battle for the scallop: French and British vessels ram each other as seamen hurl rocket flares over fishing rights {{!}} National Post|last1=News|last2=World|newspaper=Nationalpost|date=2018-08-30|language=en-CA|access-date=2019-02-07}}{{Cite web|url=https://thegirlsun.com/brit-fisherman-caught-in-scallop-wars-calls-for-royal-navy-to-be-sent-to-france-to-protect-our-boats/|title=Brit fisherman caught in scallop wars calls for Royal Navy to be sent to France to protect our boats|last=thegirlsun|date=2018-08-30|website=The Girl Sun|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-07}} The French Navy vowed to intervene in the event of future clashes.[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/09/04/french-navy-ready-act-scallop-war-british-fishermen-erupts/ French navy will 'intervene' to avert fresh 'scallop war' as Gallic fishermen vow fresh 'assault' if no deal reached]

Subsequently, a "crab war" developed in which the British claimed that the French fishermen deliberately damaged their crab pots. This violence was also condemned by both British and French officials.{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/09/20/first-scallop-wars-now-crab-wars/|title=Scallop wars barely over as new accusations from Cornish fishermen spark crab wars|last=Ward|first=Victoria|date=2018-09-20|work=The Telegraph|access-date=2019-02-07|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}

2020

Further incidents occurred in 2020. On 13 October two British boats, Golden Promise and Girl Macey, based in Brixham, were in the Baie de Seine, near the 12-mile French territorial limit. One of the boats was surrounded by five French boats, the other by fifteen. Flares, oil and frying pans were thrown at the British boats by the French. The French boats also jammed frequencies used by the

British trawlers.{{cite web|first1=John|last1=Bett|first2=Colleen|last2=Smith|accessdate=2020-12-13|title=Fish wars as Devon boats under attack by French fishermen|url=https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/fish-wars-devon-boats-under-4605217|date=14 October 2020|website=DevonLive}}