Prize shellfish costs fisherman dear. A south coast of England fisherman had penalties totalling £1415 imposed upon him after Cardigan Magistrates heard that Fishery Officers had found undersized scallops aboard his boat. Sitting in Cardigan on 3 September, the Court heard how the boat ‘Liza Leanne’ skippered and part owned by Andrew David Mitchell of Marsh Lane, Lymington, Hampshire had been boarded off Cardigan Island on 18 March by Officers from the Fishery Patrol Vessel ‘Cranogwen’ operated by South Wales Sea Fisheries Committee. Following scallop dredging operations there were a number of sacks and baskets of scallops on the deck of the fishing boat, an inspection of which indicated the catch to contain 16% below the minimum size set for the shellfish. The court heard how the minimum size was an important element in the range of scallop conservation measures that were in place and how the previous 18 months had seen a considerable rise in the amount of scallop dredging taking place in Cardigan Bay. The whole matter of scallop conservation was also the subject of a Welsh Assembly Government consultation the results of which was awaited by fishing industry and conservation groups alike. In addition to the £1000 fine, elevated costs of £400 were awarded against Mitchell who had been arrested and bailed to appear in Cardigan following a previous failure to attend the court. A Victim Surcharge of £15 was also added to the bill. |
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