NO NETTING IN BASS NURSERY AREA Haverfordwest Magistrates adjudicated on matters brought before them by South Wales Sea Fisheries Committee on Monday 23 March. Victor Kenneth Bowman of 5 Waterston Road, Hazelbeach, Milford Haven pleaded guilty to gill netting in a Bass Nursery Area established by Committee byelaws in the Pennar Gut area of the Haven waterway. On 18 September 2008, Fishery Officers observed Bowman in a small boat operating a gill net near the Pennar Gut channel on an ebbing tide. The court heard that several types of fish were vulnerable to fishing gears in such locations. Following an inspection by the Committee’s Fishery Patrol Vessel, a number of mullet and a 37 metre gill net were seized. Placing Bowman on a 2 year conditional discharge, the Magistrates stressed that any further similar offences would lead to a revisit of the current charge and possibly a substantial fine. They ordered that he pay £200 in prosecution costs and also ordered forfeiture of the seized fish. A spokesman for the Committee welcomed the support of the Magistrate’s Court in supporting Bass nursery legislation which is currently under review in Wales. Nursery areas are understood to have contributed significantly to increasing bass stocks which may have taken a knock recently as a result of prolonged cold weather. |
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