French fishermen have decided to temporarily lift their three-day blockade of the ports of Calais, Dunkirk and Boulogne to allow for union talks.
The blockade had been lifted overnight but there had been fears it would be reimposed this morning.
There had been speculation that the action could spread to the Channel Tunnel, with one French union reported to be considering a blockade of the route.
The fishermen called off their protest this morning despite expressing disappointment following a meeting last night with France's agriculture and fisheries minister Michel Barnier in Paris.
Mr Barnier announced €4 million in aid to fishermen in the north of France, but no changes to EU quotas, after four hours of talks. He told a press conference that the funds, to be made available by June 30th, would cover a temporary halt to fishing in the zone by boats nearing the limits of their quotas.
While European Union fishing quotas would not be changed in 2009, as the European Commission was opposed, Mr Barnier said he would be holding a meeting "in a fortnight" with EU Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg.
Mr Barnier added, however, that a court-ordered lifting of the blockade of the busy Channel ferry ports of Calais and Boulogne was "the responsibility of the fishermen" themselves. He also announced loans of up to €50 million that would be made available to indebted fishing companies.
Some 500 independent fishermen had stopped ships entering or leaving Calais, Boulogne and Dunkirk since Tuesday. The fishermen, many of whom have already exceeded their quota for cod and sole for the first six months of 2009, were pushing for a review of the EU limits, which they claim are forcing them out of work.
The 100-strong flotilla halted all cross-Channel ferry and freight traffic, with port and transport authorities urging car and truck drivers to delay their journey or choose an alternative route.
Ferry operator P&O said it planned to seek compensation from French authorities over business lost due to the blockade - which it said was costing it €1.1 million a day.
The company said it was hoping to have a full service running on the Dover-Calais route as soon as possible.