TWO Guernsey fisheries officers were ‘abducted’ after they boarded a French fishing vessel yesterday to investigate suspected fisheries offences.

The incident happened during a routine patrol of British fisheries limits north of Alderney.

Two officers from the Guernsey fisheries protection vessel Leopardess boarded the French-registered vessel Klein Familie.

The boarding took place as part of an investigation into alleged fisheries offences that had occurred in December 2003.

Sea fisheries officers asked the master of the French vessel to return to St Peter Port.

Instead, he took no notice and set off back to Cherbourg with the boarding party, Roger Sandall and David Wilkinson, on his boat, closely followed by the Leopardess.

As soon as they arrived in Cherbourg, a meeting took place between the Guernsey and French authorities.

A sea fisheries officer said that it was hoped that the French skipper would eventually present himself in St Peter Port as a result.

The Leopardess then returned to St Peter Port with the two officers on board.