Overview

• French authorities detained the British vessel Lady T on May 22, accusing it of fishing without authorization in French waters.
• The incident is seen as retaliation for a £40,000 fine imposed on a French vessel for breaching UK maritime rules.
• The Lady T's owner could face a £63,000 fine, and the vessel remains detained in Boulogne-sur-Mer pending further investigation.
• British politicians have criticized France's actions as 'shameful double standards,' citing inaction on illegal migrant crossings in the Channel.
• The dispute underscores ongoing tensions between the UK and France despite a recent UK-EU trade deal granting EU fishermen access to British waters for 12 more years.