This in from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, in their own words. Ed
A Judge at Newport, Isle of Wight Crown Court imposed financial penalties totalling £25,650, His Honour Judge Richard Price, also ordered the confiscation of the unregistered fishing vessel.
The Court heard that in 1991, two men bought a 5.90m long and 1.80m wide boat with one outboard engine registered as ‘Free Spirit’. This boat was registered in 1983 as Official Number A20480 with Port Letters and Numbers (PLN) PE17.
Maritime and Coastguard Agency alerted to name change
The registered name of the boat was changed in 1996 and 2006. In early 2009 the Maritime and Coastguard Agency were alerted by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) to the fact that the details given in the vessel’s registration documentation did not match the current boat.
When the boat was re-measured it was found that the vessel had grown to 8.37m in length and 2.66m in breadth and had two outboard engines rather than one.
Father and son pleaded guilty
A 62 year old man of New Milton, Hampshire pleaded guilty to two charges brought under registration requirements of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, as amended. He also pleaded guilty to using an unlicensed vessel to fish for profit. He was fined £600 plus costs of £500.
His 36 year old son also of New Milton, Hampshire acted as skipper of the vessel. He pleaded guilty to one charge brought under registration requirements of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, as amended.
He also, pleaded guilty to one charge of using an unlicensed vessel to fish for profit. He was fined £400 plus costs of £1,000.
“You are a pair of crooks”
His Honour, Judge Richard Price also imposed a confiscation order for £11,575 on each of the defendants.
In passing sentence His Honour Judge Price stated, “To describe what you did both together and as individuals as very stupid would be an understatement. You had one boat, then got another larger boat and used the old licence to catch more fish. You did this again and maybe again. No evidence was offered to support this, but I think you probably did.
“You are a pair of crooks. Rather than obey the law which is not just some mindless thing drawn up by bureaucrats, it may have faults but it does matter. It is the law and we obey the law and that includes you two.
“It has been sometime since I have heard such utter rubbish as trotted out by you two. It was perfectly obvious even without the evidence of a witness what was going on.
“Fines appear miniscule but I can’t fine you anywhere near what I would like to but I have to take into account your assets, your earning capacity, age and state of health. If you had any money I would be fining you a great deal of money.”
Not just administrative offence
Registry of Shipping and Seamen Manager Ceri Bradshaw said, “This may seem like an administrative offence but they made a vessel appear to be something that it wasn’t. The vessels they were using were unregistered and should not have been used for fishing.”
Paul Johnson, District Marine Officer for the Marine Management Organisation, said, “Unlicensed fishing is a serious issue for compliant fishermen. It is vital that vessels are properly licensed so as to ensure sustainable fisheries for the future. The prosecution of this case helps to ensure that individuals and operators do not benefit at the expense of honest fishermen.”
