France Says UK Breaks Brexit Pact by Rejecting Fishing Permits

French fishing boats protest in front of the port of Saint Helier off the British island of Jersey to draw attention to what they see as unfair restrictions on their ability to fish in UK waters after Brexit, on May 6, 2021. Sameer Al-Doumy/AFP via Getty Images

France has accused the UK of breaking the UK–EU pact on post-Brexit relations after most applications by French fishermen to fish in British waters were rejected.

The French government reacted angrily on Tuesday after it emerged that, out of 47 French applications for small fishing boats to operate in the UK’s territorial sea, just 12 fishing licences were granted.