Four months after the post-Brexit agreement, the captain of the Marmouset 3 had not considered such a situation: without a license to cast his nets in British waters, his activity is struggling to stay afloat.
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It is the most serious crisis he has ever experienced aboard his trawler. “My catches have dropped 40% this year, says Pierre Leprêtre, captain of the Marmouset 3 in Boulogne-sur-Mer. I used to fish all the way to the north of England. Today it is forbidden to me. “
It all started well though. The signing of an agreement between Great Britain and the European Union had put a smile on the face of this fishing boss after months of doubts. Like all his French colleagues, he thought he would retain the right to go fishing in British waters, the waters with the most fish in the North Sea. Only here, Pierre Leprêtre has still not obtained a license, an essential document. “There are six of us trawlers and most of the bolt-cutters did not get it, explains Pierre Leprêtre. And it’s very complicated for us because we have the right to fish only on the French side. The resource is practically exhausted there. If it lasts any longer, I’m going to have to hang up. “
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For lack of squid, we fish whiting
A very difficult situation for this 34-year-old fisherman who had his new trawler built barely 4 years ago. So he looked for solutions. But the Covid got involved. “Usually in February we target squid in English waters, there are no quotas and it sells very well. But this year we had to fall back on whiting. But this fish is subject to quotas and in addition to the sanitary situation, it has not sold: restaurants are closed for valuable fish, canteens too. “
It’s difficult, I had a little cash just in case, but now we no longer want to go to sea, my guys leave with leaden shoes.
Pierre Leprêtre.
Pierre Leprêtre even hoped that the authorities would turn a blind eye. “I then embarked on the scallop. But we were missing a document. I spent a week in the shell. Result: a call to order and a fine of € 7,000. equivalent of a week and a half of sea fishing! “ So no question of trying to chip away at the English: “If I fished without a license, he explains, I would be boarded and driven straight to England. The fine would be even higher, there are Royal Navy boats and coast guards who watch day and night: all the fishermen keep their heads down. “
So Pierre Leprêtre is not very optimistic for the coming months. “It’s difficult, I had a little cash just in case, but now we don’t want to go to sea anymore, my guys are leaving with leaden shoes. We’re dying little by little in silence. . “ By embarking for the first time at the age of 17, Pierre Leprêtre could never have imagined one day perhaps having to give up his passion.
