The French government has not imposed a ban on large industrial fishing vessels operating within the 12-mile coastal zone, even though scientific studies and industry representatives have supported such a move. This zone is vital for the breeding of many fish species and is currently accessible to vessels over 25 meters in length, both French and foreign, under existing international agreements. One example of such a vessel is the Annie Hillina, a 112-meter Dutch-flagged freezer trawler, which can catch the equivalent of 1,000 small fishing boats in a single day. Charles Braine, president of the association Pleine mer, has questioned the logic of maintaining the current system, while Dimitri Rogoff, president of the Normandy regional fisheries committee, has argued that the English Channel should be reserved for "human-sized boats" that support the local economy. On September 7, the Manche-Nord commission of the National Fisheries Committee voted to support excluding vessels over 25 meters from the 12-mile zone, with 10 members in favor, 6 against, and 5 abstentions. However, no official action has followed the decision. Minister for the Sea and Fisheries, Catherine Chabaud, had previously expressed the intention to reserve the coastal zone for smaller vessels under Article 20 of the Common Fisheries Policy. However, the government has not formally informed the European Commission or relevant countries of this proposed measure, as required at least two months in advance. A report commissioned by Chabaud in early September remains unpublished, delaying any potential changes. According to researchers from the Agro Institute, factory ships—large industrial vessels—rely on the coastal zone for less than 1% of their total catches. If excluded from the area, these vessels could potentially move their operations elsewhere. In contrast, artisanal fishermen, who create more jobs per ton of fish caught and have a smaller environmental impact, would benefit from reduced competition. A survey by Rogoff found that 99% of fishermen in the area from Mont-Saint-Michel to Cherbourg support the exclusion of industrial ships. Jérôme Jourdain, deputy general secretary of the Union of French Shipowners, has stated that the current evidence is not sufficient to justify the ban, pending a new study. Geoffroy Dhellemmes of France Pélagique, a subsidiary of a Dutch fishing company, claimed it would be impossible for his company to shift operations if the ban were implemented. Fabien Randrianarisoa of the NGO Bloom suggested the French government might be hesitant to oppose the Netherlands, a major economic partner of France.