Macduff Shellfish trawler yet to be released despite contrasting reports
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A SPOKESPERSON for Macduff Shellfish said that their trawler, which was detained off the coast of Normandy, has yet to be released.
That contrasts reports this morning which claimed that the vessel had now been released after France had backed down.
However, a spokesperson for Macduff Shellfish said that as far as they are aware the vessel is yet to be released.
Andrew Brown, Director of Public Affairs for Macduff Shellfish, said: "At the moment our understanding remains that the vessel continues to be held at Le Havre, at least until the hearing on Wednesday."
Confusion surrounding the situation stems from comments made by Environment Secretary George Eustice.
Mr Eustice, talking to Sky News, said: "I understand that the vessel has now been released and I think there's going to be some further discussions, clearly there was an administrative error at some point.
"We haven't quite got to the bottom of that but I understand the vessel has been released."
The Cornelis Gert Jan was detained by French authorities on Wednesday, October 27 after the vessel was accused of fishing without a licence.
Macduff Shellfish have maintained that the vessel's five-day scallop fishing expedition in French waters was "entirely legal" and accused France of using them as a "pawn" in a row with the UK.
The boat's detainment brought renewed interest around post-Brexit fishing rights between the UK and France.
All eight members of the crew have remained with the vessel in Le Havre with the skipper being threatened with a charge of £63,000.
It still remains unclear whether the business will have to pay a fine of £125,000 to release the trawler.
