French authorities release the seized British fishing boat Lady T after holding it and imposing a hefty fine on the skipper

A British fishing boat that was ‘held hostage’ by the French authorities after allegedly operating without a licence has been reportedly released.

The Lady T, which is located in Eastbourne, East Sussex, was detained in Boulogne-sur-Mer and faced possible confiscation after being stopped by a French Navy Ship called the Pluvier on Thursday.

Recent information from a court source in Boulogne-sur-Mer has revealed that the iconic 10-meter vessel, which is named after former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, has now been set free, as reported by the Daily Telegraph.

Reports suggest that the skipper of the catamaran, who appeared in court in Boulogne-sur-Mer on Monday, was required to pay a significant fine to secure the release of the boat.

While the exact fine issued remains unknown, previous reports have suggested that the skipper could be paying up to £63,000 for ‘non-authorised fishing in French waters’ by a non-EU boat.

Responding to the boat’s release, Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, told the Daily Telegraph: ‘Fantastic news that the French have released this vessel. It should have never been impounded in the first place. 

‘If the French put half as much effort into stopping illegal immigrants as they did into harassing British fishermen then we would not have floods of immigrants crossing the channel. 

Eastbourne-Based ‘Lady T’ Fishing Vessel that was ‘held hostage’ in Boulogne-sur-Mer, at risk of confiscation, after being intercepted by the Pluvier, a French Navy Ship, on Thursday, has now been released, the Daily Telegraph has reported

The catamaran’s skipper, who appeared in court in Boulogne-ser-Mer on Monday afternoon, has allegedly been forced to pay a ‘substantial fine’ for the boat’s release, according to sources

Responding to the boat’s release, Chris Philp (pictured), the shadow home secretary, told the Daily Telegraph: ‘Fantastic news that the French have released this vessel. It should have never been impounded in the first place’

‘I urge the French to direct their efforts towards stopping the small bats as they are obliged to do under international law’. 

It comes after Olivier Leprêtre, chairman of the regional fishing committee in northern France, suggested on Sunday that the boat could have been seized as a tit-for-tat measure after a French skipper was fined in a landmark case last month. 

French-registered Pierre D’Ambre was fined £40,000 in Newcastle Magistrates Court after being accused of bottom-trawling in a prohibited area of the Offshore Brighton Marine Conservation Zone.

The seizure also followed extensive criticism pointed towards Prime Minister Keir Starmer over a landmark deal with the EU over fishing rights which hugely favour the French.

Confirming the previous holding of Lady T, a spokesman for France’s Maritime Prefecture previously said: ‘On Thursday, May 22, the French Navy’s public service patrol vessel, the Pluvier, conducted a fishing inspection in the French Exclusive Economic Zone, off the Somme Bay.

‘During this operation, which was part of the State’s maritime enforcement, a British fishing vessel was inspected by sailors from the Navy patrol vessel while fishing without a license in French waters.

‘As the offence was proved, the fishing vessel was diverted during the night of May 23rd to the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer, following the instructions of the Delegate for the Sea and Coastline, acting on behalf of the Regional Prefect, who oversees the fisheries police, for the purpose of initiating prosecution under the authority of the Public Prosecutor.’

It comes after Olivier Leprêtre, chairman of the regional fishing committee in northern France, suggested on Sunday that the boat could have been seized as a tit-for-tat measure after a French skipper was fined £40,000 in a landmark case last month

The Francesca TO 80 (pictured), registered in Truro, Cornwall, was also intercepted and detained in French waters last Saturday – less than 48 hours before the UK government was accused of ‘surrendering’ to the EU over fishing rights

The spokesman added: ‘This operation demonstrates the vigilance of State services in protecting fisheries resources and their determination to enforce regulations.

‘It sends a clear signal to those who might be tempted to fish illegally in French waters.’

Following the boat’s seizure, Mr Philp accused the French of ‘shameful double standards’, telling the Daily Telegraph that the country should ‘start stopping boats with illegal immigrants’ rather than focusing upon a UK fishing vessel within French waters.  

The Francesca TO 80, registered in Truro, Cornwall, was also intercepted and detained in French waters last Saturday – less than 48 hours before the UK government was accused of ‘surrendering’ to the EU over fishing rights. 

Spotted 30 nautical miles off the island of Batz, off Roscoff, Brittany, the boat was then escorted to the port of Brest after inspectors suspected the crew of unlicensed fishing in French waters.

This also constituted an offence under the Rural and Maritime Fishing Code, it was alleged.

Pictured: Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer met European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at a summit in London on May 19 to negotiate the deal, alongside European Council President Antonio Costa

Under a new deal sealed by Sir Keir Starmer, European trawlers will be granted access to British waters for a further 12 years.

A previous agreement, reached under Prime Minister Boris Johnson, saw the UK regain 25 per cent of EU fishing quotas, but this was set to run out next year.

Now the EU will maintain unfettered access to the UK’s coastal waters until 2038.

While Sir Keir described it as a ‘landmark’ deal between the EU and an ‘independent’ UK, members of the Conservative Party and Reform UK were critical of the agreement. 

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said the 12-year deal on access for European boats ‘will be the end of the fishing industry’.

Sir Keir Starmer met with the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, alongside European Council President Antonio Costa, on May 19 at a summit hosted in Lancaster House, London, in order to negotiate the controversial deal. 

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) was contacted for comment.