Environment Secretary George Eustice MP
The scallop trawler being held by the French has now been released, said a Cabinet Minister.
The Cornelis Gert Jan was seized six days ago, and its skipper quizzed by the police in Le Havre.
Environment Secretary George Eustice said the vessel was taken after an “administrative error”.
He told Sky News: “I understand that vessel has now been released and I think there’s going to need to be some further discussions, clearly there was an administrative error at some point.
“We haven’t quite got to the bottom of that but that vessel I understand has been released.”
Mr Eustice said the captain – believed to be Irish – must return for further questioning later.