France demands £125,000 ‘ransom’ to release British fishing trawler impounded in Le Havre port

  • Cornelis Gert Jan, who is Scottish-registered, is accused not having a valid license
  • The unnamed skipper was charged with ‘acts in unauthorised sea fishing’
  • The Macduff Shellfish Company owners were ordered to pay the amount










French courts have demanded a £125,000 ‘ransom’ for the release of the British fishing trawler impounded in the Le Havre port, it emerged last night.

Cornelis Gert Jan, a Scottish-registered person, is accused not having a valid license to fish in French waters.

The unnamed skipper of the vessel was charged with ‘acts in unauthorised sea fishing within French maritime salt waters’. He was ordered to appear in court next month.

The Cornelis Gert Jan's skipper (pictured) has been charged with 'acts of unauthorised sea fishing in French maritime salt waters'

The Cornelis Gertjan’s skipper (pictured), has been charged with ‘acts unauthorised sea fishing, in French maritime salt water’

French courts have demanded a £125,000 'ransom' for the release of the British fishing trawler impounded in the Le Havre port, it emerged last night

French courts have demanded a £125,000 ‘ransom’ for the release of the British fishing trawler impounded in the Le Havre port, it emerged last night

Scottish-registered the Cornelis Gert Jan is accused of not having a valid licence to fish in French waters

Cornelis Gertjan, a Scottish-registered fisherman, is accused of not possessing a valid French fishing license

He faces £63,000 in fines but sources said an eye-watering bail of £125,000 has been set to ensure he returns to face trial.

The Macduff Shellfish Company has been ordered by a judge to pay the amount before the boat can be released.

The firm insists that the vessel was issued with the correct license and is being used to ‘another player’ in the row between France & the UK.

Its unnamed skipper has been charged with 'acts of unauthorised sea fishing in French maritime salt waters' and ordered to appear in court next August

The unnamed skipper was charged with “acts of unauthorised marine fishing in French maritime sal waters” and ordered to appear in court next august

Tomorrow is a French bank holiday, so the crew of eight cannot leave France before Tuesday. 

One of them stated to The Mail on Sunday that they were not going to be leaving this weekend. We just want to get away from here. The skipper, who refused his name, said: “Hopefully, sooner than later.”

It was discovered that another unidentified British fishing boat was warned days before the Cornelius was impounded.

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