| UK. Owners & master of the French trawler Camisard II fined £20,000 for illegal fishing in UK waters |
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| Thursday, 18 May 2006 | |
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Marine Fisheries news: The owners / master of a French trawler, Camisard II (DP912362) were fined a total of £20, 214 and ordered to pay costs of £3000 for fishing illegally in British waters. The defendants were found guilty at Portsmouth Magistrates Court of failing to accurately record the quantity of cod in their logbook and using a net with a ballooning cod end. The net was also fitted with an illegal top-side chafer which stops immature fish from escaping. The magistrates ordered forfeiture of the cod-end and the illegal net attachment. The routine inspection was carried out by HMS Tyne which detained the trawler to Portsmouth. The case was brought by the Marine Fisheries Agency (MFA) on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra). Following the verdict, Angus Radford, District Inspector with the Marine Fisheries Agency, said: "We will pursue everyone who fishes illegally in British waters. Today's fines reflect the very serious nature of the offences committed. These penalties should not be seen as an occupational hazard but a real deterrent. Fisheries protection is an important part of maintaining a sustainable fishing industry. The Royal Navy and MFA Inspectors will not tolerate boats that cheat law-abiding fishermen. The MFA and Royal Navy, want a long term sustainable future for the nation's fishing industry" Editor Note: The Master and Owners of the French Trawler CAMISARD II (DP912362) pleaded guilty, at Portsmouth Magistrates Court today, 16 May, to the charge of failing to accurately record the quantity of Cod in the logbook and of using a net with a ballooning codend which was fitted with an illegal top-side chafer. They were fined as follows: Master Owners Inaccurate Logbook: Master £2,000 - Owners £10,000 Ballooning cod-end: Master £250 - Owners £1,000 Illegal Top-side chafer: Master £250 - Owners £1,000 Fine to the Value of the Catch: £5,714 Total Costs £3,000 Total: £23,214 The magistrates ordered forfeiture of the cod-end and the illegal attachment The detention notice on the vessel has been lifted. Chafers are pieces of protective netting attached to nets to prevent undue wear and tear (chafing). Chafers may be attached to the bottom of the net, bottom side chafers (BSC), or the top of the net, top side chafers (TSC), There are very precise rules as to how these Chafers are attached, especially regarding TSC. The mesh size and dimensions of the TSC and the exact way that it is attached to the cod-end of the net are all specifically set down so that the TSC does not obstruct or "blind" the cod-end meshes and prevent the escape of immature fish. A ballooning cod-end is a net in which the number of meshes in circumference increases towards the rear of the cod-end causing meshes not to fully open and allow immature fish to escape Fishing activity may be regulated in relation to the quantities of fish, area in which they are caught, the species involved and the gear used. It is important that fishermen comply with these rules. Enforcement of fisheries regulations at sea is undertaken on behalf of Defra by the Royal Navy Fisheries Protection Squadron and the Marine Fisheries Agency, their role is to inspect vessels on the fishing grounds. UK registered vessels are inspected within UK Fishery Limits and on the high seas, foreign flag vessels are liable to inspection by the RN whenever they operate in UK fishery limits. The EU fisheries regulations cover all areas including the technical matters such as mesh sizes, minimum fish sizes, restrictions on types of fishing gear, vessel specifications etc. The set of control regulations require fishing vessels to complete logbooks and landing declarations etc. and also require masters to comply with the instructions of inspectors when they wish to inspect their fishing vessels. The regulations are designed to ensure sustainable fish stocks for current and future generations. |
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| Last Updated ( Thursday, 18 May 2006 ) |
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