UK fishermen are calling for Royal Navy protection after claims they were attacked by French vessels.<\/p>\n
Kevin Lochrane, from East Sussex, said he was surrounded by seven or eights boats in international waters 15 miles off Caen in a dispute over scallops.<\/p>\n
One Scottish fisherman, Andy Scott, said he feared for his crew’s safety during the incident.<\/p>\n
Other crewmen, including from Devon, said they were also surrounded by the French fishermen. They said they had tried to damage their gear.<\/p>\n
Clinton Powell, from Devon, said: “Something has got to be done and we need naval protection.”<\/p>\n
Anton Bailey, from Brixham, claimed four French boats “threw rocks and tried to ram us”.<\/p>\n
Mr Lochrane, from Newhaven, said he had to call his crew off the deck “as it was unsafe”.<\/p>\n
“I called other vessels for assistance and when they arrived they had ropes fired at them too, and nets and ropes were put in the water to disable us.”<\/p>\n
He said the French fishing protection vessel refused to intervene.<\/p>\n
“I’ve been at sea for 20 years and never seen anything like it,” Mr Lochrane said.<\/p>\n
“Our worry is if this all kicks off again then we’re not getting any help from anybody.<\/p>\n
“Maybe we could have our own naval vessel to assist us if this should ever happen again.”<\/p>\n
Mr Scott, of Dumfries-based Scott Trawlers, said three French fishermen eventually boarded his vessel and spoke to the skipper.<\/p>\n
“He was able to satisfy them that he was legally entitled to fish there,” said Mr Scott.
\n‘Looks like premeditation’<\/p>\n
Liberal Democrat Transport Minister Norman Baker, who is MP for Lewes, said: “So far unverified reports suggest that up to 40 French boats surrounded five British vessels who appeared to be fishing legally, albeit in French waters.<\/p>\n
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