Lionel Gougelot, edited by Solène Leroux 7:40 a.m., October 30, 2021
The tension does not decrease between Paris and London regarding post-Brexit fishing.
France announced the entry into force of the first retaliatory measures against the United Kingdom from next Tuesday.
French fishermen are still asking London for licenses to be able to fish in British waters.
TESTIMONY
Ten months after the post-Brexit agreement on fishing, the situation is still tense between Paris and London, and fishermen are paying the price.
Mathieu Pinto has been waiting since the start of 2021 for his license authorizing him to fish in British waters, where he carried out 50% of his activity.
For ten months, the young fishing boss has had to look for other fishing areas further in the English Channel, but he is struggling to make ends meet.
"We used to work in an area full of fish, and behind, we were prohibited", laments the fisherman.
"We had to change our plans. With the good weather this summer, we were able to look elsewhere. But now that the price of diesel is increasing, everyone is starting to stick their tongue out," he continues.
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According to him, the British are not respecting their agreement on fishing since Brexit.
So, for Mathieu, the French government is right to provide for retaliatory measures, such as banning the English from landing their fish in Boulogne-sur-Mer.
"We were too nice, so I think it's time to bang on the table, turn off the taps a bit, and try to penalize them on certain things", confides the fisherman.
35 pending files
"There are a lot of English fish sold in France. So it can make a lot of noise and quickly make things happen", assures Mathieu Pinto.
He "hopes" in any case "because" it is time. "In Boulogne-sur-Mer, out of 68 British fishing license applications, 35 files are still awaiting a green light from the authorities.