Legal News
£10,213 penalty for fisheries offences (19 September 2016)
Date: 19/09/2016
The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has prosecuted a father and son for fisheries offences, which included exceeding their monthly catch limit and failing to maintain accurate records.
In January 2016 while operating the under ten-metre fishing vessel “Charisma NN111”, the vessel owner Thomas Copp and vessel master Gary Copp exceeded the under ten-metre monthly catch limit for sole in Area VIIe.
The pair also failed to record accurately the area of capture for sole in the vessel’s logbook.
The monthly limit for sole in area VIIe was 30kg – however, the vessel landed some 287.86kgs of sole in excess of the catch limit.
Initially, logbook records submitted by the vessel master showed this over-fish was caught in ICES Area VIId – which had a larger monthly limit.
However, investigation by officers from the Marine Management Organisation established that the fish was actually caught and retained in Area VIIe – with the master completing his records to show an inaccurate area of capture.
Thomas Copp was fined a total of £2,445 with costs of £2,541.50 and a victim surcharge of £120.
Gary Copp was sentenced on the same basis – leading to total fine and costs of £10,213 for both.
After the hearing, a spokesman for the MMO said:
“In this case, the defendants submitted an incorrect logbook report and exceeded their monthly catch limits.
“Such actions damage the viability of fish stocks for future generations and the law abiding fishing industry.
“The MMO will not hesitate to take the appropriate action when illegal activity is detected up to and including, as in this case, a prosecution leading to substantial fines.”
Duncan Lewis Criminal Solicitors
Duncan Lewis criminal solicitors can advise companies and individuals at any stage of an environmental offence, including charges relating to polluting watercourses, fisheries offences, fly tipping, waste carrier offences, failing to manage hazardous waste, air pollution, noise pollution, or misuse of permitted land.
There are Duncan Lewis offices across England and Wales and in most major cities – and a Duncan Lewis criminal defence solicitor can advise at the start of an investigation by the Marine Management Organisation, Environment Agency or local authority and before charges are brought.
For expert legal advice on all environmental offences or fisheries offences, call Duncan Lewis criminal solicitors on 0333 772 0409.