English Channel scallop fishing dispute

The English Channel scallop fishing dispute, also called the Great Scallop War or guerre de la coquille, occurred on 10 October 2012[1] or 8 October 2012,[2] between British and French fishermen in the Channel 24 kilometres (15 mi) off the coast of Le Havre, France.

[6] French fishermen claim their actions were in response to the British boats being inside the European Union's Common Fisheries Policy 19 kilometres (12 mi) fishing exclusion zone; British fishermen deny that they were within the exclusion zone.

[5] Violence began when three large British trawlers were chased by the French fishing boats.

British trawlers Golden Promise and Joanna C were damaged after being rammed and hit by stones, metal shackles, petrol bombs and rocket flares, and were eventually forced to seek shelter at Brixham.

On 13 October two British boats, Golden Promise and Girl Macey, based in Brixham, were in the Baie de Seine, near the 12-mile French territorial limit.