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French vow to increase blockade of ferry ports
Kiran Randhawa15.04.09
THOUSANDS of cross-Channel British holidaymakers were stranded today as French fishermen continued a port blockade for a second day.
More were expected to be stranded in northern French ports as the fishermen vowed to cause “maximum disruption” in their protest over EU fishing quotas which they claim are sending them into bankruptcy. Their union leaders warned that the blockades could continue for weeks.
Long queues formed at the Eurotunnel terminal in Calais as holidaymakers had to abandon ferry trips. P&O Ferries said the fishermen had sealed it off at 6am.
A fleet of 110 trawlers, some flying Jolly Roger flags, is blocking the entrance to the ports of Boulogne, Calais and Dunkirk. Some trade unionists were threatening violence.
Fishermen also sealed off road entrances to the ports with barricades of burning tyres and piles of rubbish.
Ferry companies P&0 and SeaFrance, which sail between Dover and Calais, and LD Lines between Dover and Boulogne, all cancelled crossings yesterday and today.
P&O spokesman Chris Laming said: “This is costing hundreds of thousands of pounds and will move very quickly past the million mark.”
Many British travellers tried to take shuttle trains home, causing more delays at the Channel Tunnel terminal at Coquelles.
Calais port spokesman Gerrard Barron said: “The whole of Calais is blocked. Nothing is moving in or out, either on land or at sea.”
Marc Perrault, president of the Boulogne fishermen's association, said: “This could go on for days, weeks, months — as long as it takes.”
Reader views (6)
Don't take your car to the continent, most cities in Italy for example are already overburdened with vehicles.
- Mark, Milan, Italy
Most of the worlds fish is made into animal feed. If we must overfish lets turn them into smoothies, cheers!
- Jack Spratt, Richmond, England
To Pete in Birmingham, As France is a broadly socialist country, strikes are not illegal and supported by the Police.
- Paul Bradford, Monflanquin, France
My daughter is on a school trip waiting to return to England. The French government should arrest those responsible, as i'm sure this action cant be legal.
- Pete, Birmingham England
Bizarre that every other EU country conforms to the quotas and none of them have fishing fleets that are going bankrupt, perhaps les Francais haven't heard of economics.
- Bob, Cheam
Life goes on
- Trunk, US
