French courts have demanded a £125,000 'ransom' for the release of the British fishing boat impounded in the Le Havre port, it emerged last night.
Scottish-registered the Cornelis Gert Jan is accused of not having a valid license to fish in French waters.
France demands £125,000 'ransom' to release British fishing trawler impounded in Le Havre port https://t.co/3vHGZjJOow
— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) October 31, 2021
Its unnamed skipper has been charged with 'acts of unauthorised sea fishing in French maritime salt waters' and ordered to appear in court next August.
He faces £63,000 in fines but sources said an eye-watering bail of £125,000 has been set to ensure he returns to face trial.
Owners the Macduff Shellfish Company have been ordered to pay the amount before a judge will release the impounded boat.
The firm insists the vessel had the correct licence and is being used as 'another pawn' in the row between France and the UK.
Tomorrow is a bank holiday in France, meaning the eight-member crew cannot leave France until Tuesday at the earliest.
Today's action by France to detain a UK fishing boat is extremely concerning, especially to the people of the Channel Islands following blockades earlier this year. In @HouseofCommons I asked for assurances that we will always stand by the Crown Dependencies. @Ian_Gorst pic.twitter.com/1ncOTV0Bpm
— Rob Butler (@RobBAylesbury) October 28, 2021
One of them told The Mail on Sunday: 'We've been told we are not leaving this weekend. We just want to get out of here.' The beleaguered skipper, who refused to give his name, added: 'Hopefully, sooner rather than later.'
This weekend, it emerged that another unidentified British fishing vessel was given a warning days before the Cornelius was impounded.
This article has been adapted from its original source.
