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THE owner and skipper of a French fishing vessel are the latest to pay a heavy penalty for a series of mainly technical related offences.
The owner, Pascal le Friant, and master, Eric Bonizec, of the trawler Marie Alexandra (GV730712) pleaded guilty to using three nets constructed of netting material that exceeded the permitted twine thickness and to using two illegal net attachments (top-side chafers) at Haverfordwest Magistrates' Court.
The court was told that the vessel was boarded by marine enforcement officers from the HMS Tyne in ICES sea area VIIh just over week ago. The vessel was suspected of technical conservation gear offences and was detained at Milford Haven for further investigation.The owner’s total fines came to £10,000 plus £1,230 in costs. The master’s total fines came to £5,000 plus £1,230 in costs.
The court also ordered forfeiture of the offending cod-ends and chafers. An undertaking for payment of fees and costs was given and the detention notice was lifted. Just a few weeks ago the owners of a German registered but Dutch owned beam trawler, the Amrumbank SC10, pleaded guilty to misreporting North Sea plaice and exceeding the maximum twine thickness of their starboard net at North Tyneside Magistrates' Court . That cost them almost £15,000 in fines and costs. And in June the masters and owners of a Newlyn based beam trawler had to pay several thousands pounds for a number of logbook offences.
In all cases the prosecutions were brought by the new Marine Management Organisation (MMO), which replaced the Marine and Fisheries Agency in April, and which has pledged to protect fishing.
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