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French fishermen fear consequences of no-deal Brexit

French fishermen have lobbied President Macron to stand firm on fishing rights but if a deal cannot be reached by January 1, it could mean French and other EU boats can no longer fish at all off the coast of the UK.

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As the deadline nears for an agreement on a post-Brexit trade deal between the UK and the European Union, fishermen in France fear they may soon be barred from fishing in British waters if an accord cannot soon be reached, something they say would be a catastrophe for their livelihoods, reports FRANCE 24.

Fishing rights are one of the main sticking points as Brexit negotiations go down to the wire.

The UK wants British fishing vessels to be given priority to fish in UK waters. But the EU is pushing for current access and quotas for EU vessels to remain largely unchanged.

French fishermen have lobbied President Emmanuel Macron to stand firm on fishing rights

But if a deal cannot be reached by January 1, it could mean French and other EU boats can no longer fish at all off the coast of the UK.

For French fishermen like the Margolle brothers, based in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France's busiest fishing port, that would be a disaster.

Read more of this report from FRANCE 24.