Britain on Thursday condemned France’s “disproportionate” seizure of a British fishing boat in French waters, marking a sharp deterioration in a row over post-Brexit fishing rights that is in danger of spinning out of control.

French Seas Minister Annick Girardin said the vessel was detained during routing checks off the northern port of Le Havre overnight as it was not allowed to fish in French territorial waters. A second British boat was given a verbal warning.

The action signalled France’s determination not to back down in the dispute after setting out potential sanctions against Britain if there is no progress in talks.

They included extra customs checks on British goods entering France from November 2, and what was widely seen as a threat to reduce electricity exports to the United Kingdom or raise tariffs if talks fail.

British fishing grounds are among the richest in the North-East Atlantic zone, where most of the European Union’s catch is hauled in.

France’s actions appear intended as a warning shot to put pressure on Britain to compromise at talks with the EU.

But the British government said the French reaction was “disappointing and disproportionate, and not what we would expect from a close ally and partner”.

Paris says Britain has refused to grant its fishermen the full number of licences to operate inside British waters that France says is warranted, though Britain says it is issuing licences to vessels that meet its criteria.

(Reuters/NAN)