French fishermen to blockade Channel Tunnel today over fishing licenses row

French fishermen could blockade Channel Tunnel today in response to the ongoing EU-UK fishing licenses row.

The French fishermen’s national committee has explained in a statement that the action aims to be a “symbolic and non-violent… warning shot”.

However the hours-long blockade scheduled to impact the tunnel, along with ports at Saint-Malo, Calais, and Ouistreham this morning, could cause severe disruption.

Last month France detained a British trawler and verbally warned another off the coast of Le Havre, and the French government subsequently threatened to hike tariffs on energy, customs, and limit port access.

France has complained that its fishermen have only been granted with half the licences to fish in UK waters that they are entitled to under the Brexit agreement.

In September the UK and the Jersey refused dozens of French fishing licences.

The British government said it has granted licenses to fishing vessels with an evidenced history of operating in its waters prior to the UK’s exit from the EU.