Watch as Dramatic footage shows French and British scallop boats clashing on the high seas

French maritime authorities are appealing for calm after fishermen from rival French and British fleets banged their boats in ill-tempered skirmishes over access to the scallop-rich waters off France's northern coast.

A French television crew was on board one of the French boats as the skirmishes occurred.

A maritime official described a muscular confrontation between 35 French boats and five British ones in international waters on Tuesday morning as "very dangerous," although there were no injuries. She said French maritime authorities "really hope things will calm down."

The official said there are problems every year between French and British fishermen over access to lucrative scallops, but it's usually without the violence.