Scallop row: UK in talks to ensure ’no repeat’ of clashes

The UK government has said it is talking to French authorities to ensure there will be “no repeat“ of clashes between fisherman over scallops off France’s north coast. On Monday, nearly 40 French boats confronted British rivals they say are depleting scallop stocks in the area. The UK’s environment secretary says the British boats were fishing legally. France says it is ready to send more police vessels to the area to prevent further clashes. Boats collided and stones were thrown during the confrontation off the coast of Normandy in the early hours of Tuesday. Local official Ingrid Parrot said the situation had been “extremely tense“ and both sides had thrown objects at each other. She defended sending just one boat to police the incident overnight, saying: “The aim was to stop the tensions from increasing. We sent only one ship that day, but we will send more if it’s necessary.“ Reality Check: What are the rules on scallops? Could Brexit calm troubled waters? Mike Park, chief executive of the Scottish