British trawler seized by France is pawn in political game: lawyer

A rainbow appears as British trawler Cornelis Gert Jan is seen moored in the port of Le Havre, after being seized last week fishing in the French territorial waters without licence, in Le Havre, France, November 2, 2021. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe

ROUEN, France (Reuters) - A British fishing trawler impounded by French authorities is the unjustified casualty of a wider political battle between Paris and London over post-Brexit fishing rules, a lawyer for the vessel's captain said on Wednesday.

A court in the north-western French city of Rouen is deciding whether the Irish captain, Jondy Ward, should pay a 150,000 euro ($174,000) deposit to have the boat released after French authorities said he was fishing in French waters without a proper licence.