France Recalls Canada Envoy in Fishing Dispute

France recalled its ambassador to Canada on Sunday over the arrest of four French politicians and 17 French islanders who were charged with fishing illegally in Canadian waters.

The French Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the decision to recall Ambassador Philippe Husson to Paris for consultations was made because of a “worsening of the French-Canadian dispute over fishing.”

Also on Sunday, Canada accused the French government of arbitrarily delaying its citizens from entering or leaving France and called for an immediate end to the practice.

The trawler Croix de Lorraine, from the small French-held islands of St.-Pierre and Miquelon, south of Newfoundland, was boarded by Canadian fisheries officials Thursday after it attempted to fish in Canadian waters.

The islanders were trying to draw attention to the long-running dispute between Canada and France over the islands’ boundary and fishing quotas.

Canada, which has accused France of “flagrant overfishing,” last year decided to close the rich fishing grounds to French fishermen. The two sides are to meet April 21 to try and settle the issue.

Originally only the 17 crewmen were charged, but later the four politicians--Albert Pen, a senator and mayor; Gerard Grignon, a member of the French Chamber of Deputies; Marc Plantegenest, president of the locally elected government, and Victor Reux, an appointed adviser--were also arrested.

The men were released on bail Sunday and were ordered to return to St. John’s, Newfoundland, on Oct. 3 for a court appearance on the charges.