Belgian fishing vessels face unprecedented checks by UK authorities
Five Belgian fishing vessels were subjected to unusually strict inspections by British authorities last week, causing significant economic damage. Flemish Fisheries minister Hilde Crevits (CD&V) has condemned the action, describing it as "unprecedented and assertive".
The coordinated inspections took place last Tuesday and Friday in the Bristol Channel. British officers boarded the vessels at sea, sealed the holds, detained the captains and ordered them to sail to a British port. Once there, the ships' hard drives were confiscated - for reasons that remain unclear.
In fifteen years at sea, I've never seen anything like this
"The crew are still shaken," said one fisherman in Zeebrugge. "In fifteen years at sea, I've never seen anything like this." Captain Clancy Snauwaert, whose vessel Z-26 was boarded 37 miles off the British coast, explained: "We were ordered to sail to Newlyn - an eight-hour voyage. Our hard drive was confiscated, which meant we couldn't legally continue fishing. We had to return to Zeebrugge. The loss? At least €40,000".
Disproportionate and non-transparent
While inspections are not uncommon, they are usually carried out with minimal disruption. This time, fishermen say the action was disproportionate and non-transparent. No formal explanation has yet been given.
The crews still don't know what they are being accused of
Minister Crevits, who met the affected crews in Zeebrugge on Monday, said: "The inspections are not the problem, but the way they have been carried out is outrageous. The crews still don't know what they are being accused of". She plans to raise the matter with both the British authorities and the European Commission, stressing the vulnerability of Belgium's small fishing fleet.
Crevits declined to speculate on the motive behind the increased controls, but noted that they coincide with ongoing negotiations between the UK and EU over fishing quotas.
#FlandersNewsService | FlemishmMinister Hilde Crevits and Ferrier Steve Depaepe pictured during a visit to the 'Z.26 Avanti' fishing boat in Zeebrugge. © BELGA PHOTO KURT DESPLENTER
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