"Two can play at that game": UK reacts to French sanctions in fishing row
A British trawler was detained when fishing in French waters
The UK is warning that "two can play at that game" after France threatened to put sanctions on British boats fishing in French waters.
The post-Brexit row over fishing rights has escalated between the two countries following France's detaining of a British fishing boat on Wednesday 27 October.
France have claimed that there is a lack of licenses for French boats to fish in UK waters, and have warned they'll introduce harsher sanctions on British boats if the issue cannot be resolved.
If matters aren't cleared up by Tuesday 2 November, France say they will block British boats from some French ports.
French ministers say they will also tighten checks on boats travelling between France and the UK, and even threaten to limit the electricity supply to the Channel Islands.
What's the Government reaction?
New Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has taken the rare step of summoning Paris' ambassador to the UK Catherine Colonna to discuss France's intentions.
She said she will ask the ambassador "to explain the disappointing and disproportionate threats made against the UK and Channel Islands".
Environment Secretary George Eustice says that "two can play at that game" on the matter of France blocking British trawlers.
He implied that he would not rule out blocking French vessels in return, quoting France's Europe Minister Clement Beaune that the only language Britain understands is "the language of force."
He told BBC Breakfast that Paris' threats are "completely inflammatory" and "the wrong way to go about things."
Mr Eustice said any British response would be "proportionate", adding: "It's always open to us to increase the enforcement we do on French vessels, to board more of them if that's what they're doing to our vessels - there are other administrative things we can require of vessels."
When asked if the Government could block French vessels landing their catches in the UK, he responded: "If the French obviously do continue with this, then yes, we will take a proportionate response to that."
What happened to the detained fishing boat?
British scallop fishing vessel Cornelis Gert Jan was ordered by French authorities to come to shore at the French port of Le Havre on Wednesday 27 October.
Authorities said the trawler was fishing in French waters without a license, and that a different vessel had also been fined for crew refusing to let police on board to carry out checks.
Macduff Shellfish, the boat's owner, said the trawler was fishing legally in French waters, and that the British Government needed to step in to protect their rights.
Andrew Brown, director of sustainability and public affairs at Macduff, said: "It appears our vessel has been caught up in the ongoing dispute between the UK and France on the implementation of the Brexit fishing agreement."
Mr Eustice told MPs on Thursday that 171 vessels have been licensed to fish in the UK's six to 12 nautical mile zone, of which 103 are French, and 18 of those vessels are under 12 metres.