'High seas vandalism' crisis talk

The skippers claim French trawlers have been fishing illegally

Fishermen in Bridlington are demanding action against French fishing boats which they claim are causing thousands of pounds of damage to their equipment.

They say the port's September takings were down by £130,000 because of damage to lobster pots, allegedly caused by French boats trawling for whiting.

Crisis talks with MEP Edward McMillan Scott were due to be held on Friday.

Bridlington is the UK's largest shellfish port, catching brown crab, velvet crab and lobster.

Gary Hodgson, vice-chairman of Bridlington and Flamborough Fishermen's Association, said the dispute, which began in June, showed no sign of abating.

He said: "Ideally we would like them out of the area but we would just like them to communicate with us."

This scandalous damage to British fishermen's gear, the loss of earnings and illegal fishing should be acted on by the British government without delay MEP Edward McMillan Scott

French trawlers are not allowed within 12 miles of the British coastline, but many of the British lobster pots are laid down outside the 12-mile limit.

Mr Hodgson said there was an "unwritten rule" that trawlers did not fish across areas where shellfish pots were laid, which the French fishermen were ignoring.

'Scandalous' damage

The Bridlington skippers also claim some of the French boats have trawled illegally inside the 12-mile limit.

Mr McMillan Scott, who has described the damage as "vandalism on the high seas", has called on the government to put a fisheries protection vessel on standby.

He said: "This scandalous damage to British fishermen's gear, the loss of earnings and illegal fishing should be acted upon by the British government without delay.

"To describe it as a 'civil matter' is an insult and I am now asking the UK government to call in the fisheries protection fleet."

In July, more than £300,000 damage was caused to fishermen's gear by French trawlers and a Royal Naval vessel was brought to the scene.

One skipper, whose vessel was found to be fishing illegally inside the 12 mile limit, was arrested and later fined £12,500 and ordered to pay £2,250 costs by magistrates in Grimsby.