The prosecution of a fishing boat skipper reiterates the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture’s (DEFA’s) commitment to the protection and sustainability of fisheries in Manx waters.
That is the message from Geoffrey Boot MHK, Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture, after a court fined Christopher Thomson ?12,000 plus ?50 costs and ordered him to forfeit his catch of queen scallops, worth ?4,596.
The UK-registered Tobrach N was identified as operating in Manx waters by satellite tracking of its transponder.
As the vessel was not licenced to fish in the area it was targeted for enforcement action. Officers on DEFA’s fisheries protection vessel Barrule boarded the vessel eight miles south east of the Chicken’s Rock lighthouse last Thursday and confirmed that the vessel was fishing for queen scallops.
The vessel, skippered by Mr Thomson, was escorted to Douglas, where it was detained.
Mr Thomson, of Woodlands Avenue, Kirkcudbright, appeared before the Deputy High Bailiff on Monday and admitted fishing without a licence.
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