Fine of 拢24,414 for fisheries offences
Vessel owner and masters plead guilty to fishing offences at Worthing Magistrates Court in case brought by MMO.
On 5 May 2017 Macduff Fishing Fleet Limited, owner of the scallop dredger 鈥淐ornelis Gert Jan鈥� and its three masters Pawel Czerniak, Oliver Hughes and Robert Watt pleaded guilty to breaches of the Sea Fish Conservation Act 1967 at Worthing Magistrates Court.
The court heard how the vessel was permitted to retain non-quota species as a bycatch of its main catch of scallops. However, it had fished on a number of occasions in an area known to contain mixed species where a bycatch of quota species was inevitable.
Investigations by the MMO identified that 拢6,000 worth of sole and anglerfish had been landed by the vessel in the period between 5 May 2015 and 26 November 2015. This was in breach of the vessel鈥檚 licence.
While it was acknowledged that the company had provided landing data in the form of log sheets and sales notes electronically during the period, the MMO system would not necessarily pick up on potential breaches of licence conditions. The Court accepted that it was, in any event, incumbent on the masters and owners to ensure they did not retain any species on their vessel which were prohibited by their licence.
Macduff Fishing Fleet Limited (vessel owner) were fined 拢12,000, with an additional fine of 拢6057.67 to the value of the fish involved in the offending, costs of 拢4,758.75 and a victim surcharge of 拢120.
Mr Hughes (vessel master) was fined 拢580, Mr Watt (vessel master) was fined 拢678 and Mr Czernia (vessel master) was fined 拢220.00. These fines included a victim surcharge.