A British fishing boat has been seized by French authorities amid allegations it was operating without a licence in French waters. The vessel was intercepted by the French Navy’s patrol ship

Pluvier on Thursday night in the English Channel and has since been held at the port of Boulogne.

French coast guards claim the boat was fishing illegally, and it now faces a possible prosecution. The vessel will remain impounded while French fisheries officials conduct their investigation.

The UK Foreign Office confirmed it is providing consular support to a British national in France and is in contact with local authorities. A government spokesperson declined to comment further, citing the ongoing investigation.

The incident comes shortly after UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer faced backlash from British fishermen over a new agreement with the European Union. The deal grants EU fishing vessels continued access to UK waters for another 12 years in exchange for reduced trade barriers and deeper cooperation across several policy areas.

Criticism of the seizure has been swift. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp accused France of "shameful double standards," claiming French authorities fail to intercept migrant boats crossing the Channel but act quickly against British fishing vessels.

“If the French can intercept a fishing boat, they can stop illegal migrant crossings, as international law requires,” Philp said.

The new UK-EU agreement, which spans trade, defence, energy, and fishing rights, has drawn mixed political reactions. Conservatives and Reform UK have labelled it a “surrender” to Brussels, while the Liberal Democrats have welcomed it as a step toward mending UK-EU relations. Photo by Marc Ryckaert, Wikimedia commons.