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| Fishermen 'attacked by French' call for navy's help | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Fishermen are calling for Royal Navy protection after claims they were attacked by French vessels. | Fishermen are calling for Royal Navy protection after claims they were attacked by French vessels. |
| Kevin Lochrane, from East Sussex, said he was surrounded by seven or eights boats in international waters 15 miles off Caen in a dispute over scallops. | Kevin Lochrane, from East Sussex, said he was surrounded by seven or eights boats in international waters 15 miles off Caen in a dispute over scallops. |
| One Scottish fisherman, Andy Scott, said he feared for his crew's safety during the incident. | One Scottish fisherman, Andy Scott, said he feared for his crew's safety during the incident. |
| Other crewmen, including from Devon, said they were also surrounded by the French fishermen. | Other crewmen, including from Devon, said they were also surrounded by the French fishermen. |
| They said the French fishermen had tried to damage their gear. | |
| 'Called for assistance' | 'Called for assistance' |
| Clinton Powell, from Devon, said: "Something has got to be done and we need naval protection." | Clinton Powell, from Devon, said: "Something has got to be done and we need naval protection." |
| Anton Bailey, from Brixham, claimed four French boats "threw rocks and tried to ram us". | Anton Bailey, from Brixham, claimed four French boats "threw rocks and tried to ram us". |
| Mr Lochrane, from Newhaven, said he had to call his crew off the deck "as it was unsafe". | Mr Lochrane, from Newhaven, said he had to call his crew off the deck "as it was unsafe". |
| "I called other vessels for assistance and when they arrived they had ropes fired at them too, and nets and ropes were put in the water to disable us." | "I called other vessels for assistance and when they arrived they had ropes fired at them too, and nets and ropes were put in the water to disable us." |
| He said a French fishing protection vessel refused to intervene. | |
| "I've been at sea for 20 years and never seen anything like it," Mr Lochrane said. | "I've been at sea for 20 years and never seen anything like it," Mr Lochrane said. |
| "Our worry is if this all kicks off again then we're not getting any help from anybody. | "Our worry is if this all kicks off again then we're not getting any help from anybody. |
| "Maybe we could have our own naval vessel to assist us if this should ever happen again." | "Maybe we could have our own naval vessel to assist us if this should ever happen again." |
| Mr Scott, of Dumfries-based Scott Trawlers, said three French fishermen eventually boarded his vessel and spoke to the skipper. | Mr Scott, of Dumfries-based Scott Trawlers, said three French fishermen eventually boarded his vessel and spoke to the skipper. |
| "He was able to satisfy them that he was legally entitled to fish there," said Mr Scott. | "He was able to satisfy them that he was legally entitled to fish there," said Mr Scott. |
| 'Looks like premeditation' | 'Looks like premeditation' |
| French fisherman Claude Millinaire, who was among the protesters in the Baie de la Seine, told French television station TF3: "It's robbery. We work intelligently to preserve fish stocks. | |
| "We leave them to grow during the summer and then it's others who come and reap the benefits. We are not OK with that." | |
| Liberal Democrat Transport Minister Norman Baker, who is MP for Lewes, said: "So far unverified reports suggest that up to 40 French boats surrounded five British vessels who appeared to be fishing legally, albeit in French waters. | Liberal Democrat Transport Minister Norman Baker, who is MP for Lewes, said: "So far unverified reports suggest that up to 40 French boats surrounded five British vessels who appeared to be fishing legally, albeit in French waters. |
| "That looks like premeditation and attempt to intimidate. Clearly we have to establish the facts." | "That looks like premeditation and attempt to intimidate. Clearly we have to establish the facts." |
| Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon said: "UK vessels have a legitimate right to fish in these waters and France must continue to provide adequate protection to UK fishermen. | |
| "We are monitoring the situation and will continue to keep an open dialogue with our French counterparts." | "We are monitoring the situation and will continue to keep an open dialogue with our French counterparts." |
| The Maritime and Coastguard Agency contacted French coastguards, who sent a patrol vessel to the area and said the French authorities were "continuing to monitor the situation". | The Maritime and Coastguard Agency contacted French coastguards, who sent a patrol vessel to the area and said the French authorities were "continuing to monitor the situation". |
| The French Government says there is nothing it can do to stop the British boats, because they are in French waters perfectly legally. | |
| Mr Powell, who was fishing on board The Golden Fleece Two, said: "None of our skippers could get away with it: we'd be locked up and legal action taken right away." |