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Fish quota offences cost £500,000 Fish quota offences cost £500,000
(1 day later)
A boat owner has been ordered to pay almost £500,000 after his company admitted exceeding fishing quotas.A boat owner has been ordered to pay almost £500,000 after his company admitted exceeding fishing quotas.
Dumfries and Galloway firm TN Trawlers admitted a total of 26 offences which broke European regulations controlling catches of specified species of fish.Dumfries and Galloway firm TN Trawlers admitted a total of 26 offences which broke European regulations controlling catches of specified species of fish.
Owner Tom Nicholson, of Annan, was ordered to pay £472,000 under the Proceeds of Crime Act.Owner Tom Nicholson, of Annan, was ordered to pay £472,000 under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
He has six months to raise the cash or face a jail term. He was also fined £27,000 at Newcastle Crown Court.He has six months to raise the cash or face a jail term. He was also fined £27,000 at Newcastle Crown Court.
The case followed an 18-month investigation between January 2004 and July 2005 by the Marine and Fisheries Agency into the so-called "black fish" trade.The case followed an 18-month investigation between January 2004 and July 2005 by the Marine and Fisheries Agency into the so-called "black fish" trade.
Whether you agree or disagree, some control has to be exercised and that control has to be enforced Judge David WoodWhether you agree or disagree, some control has to be exercised and that control has to be enforced Judge David Wood
Nicholson's fleet operates in the Solway Firth and the South of England. Nicholson's fleet operates in the Solway Firth and the South of England including Padstow, Newlyn, Falmouth and Brixham.
Last year, six of his skippers were fined in connection with the probe.Last year, six of his skippers were fined in connection with the probe.
Judge David Wood told Nicholson that a message had to be sent out to people in the fishing industry that breaking the rules would not be tolerated and would be met with large penalties.Judge David Wood told Nicholson that a message had to be sent out to people in the fishing industry that breaking the rules would not be tolerated and would be met with large penalties.
"It is well known that fishing stocks around the UK and European countries are seriously depleted and some stocks are threatened with extinction," he said."It is well known that fishing stocks around the UK and European countries are seriously depleted and some stocks are threatened with extinction," he said.
"Whether you agree or disagree, some control has to be exercised and that control has to be enforced.""Whether you agree or disagree, some control has to be exercised and that control has to be enforced."
He said that failing to declare catches endangered the livelihoods of others in the industry.He said that failing to declare catches endangered the livelihoods of others in the industry.