Retention of Undersized Scallops
On 13th May 2009 Mr A Hughes (Skipper) and Mr I Hughes (Owner) appeared before Magistrates at Caernarfon, North Wales, charged with retaining undersized scallops onboard the fishing vessel RX54 Gratitude.
Magistrates heard that on the 3rd January 2009, Fishery Officers of the North Western and North Wales Sea Fisheries Committee boarded the vessel off Pwllheli. Inspection showed that the skipper had been dredging for scallops, and an extensive examination of the catch revealed a large number of undersized king scallops, contrary to The Scallop Fishing (Wales) Order 2005.
At a second hearing, the Bench accepted guilty pleas from both defendants, and awarded each defendant a fine of £500, £200 costs and £15 victim surcharge.
The Chairman of the Bench stated that it was the duty of a vessel owner to ensure that full training was given to crew members, and that the Skipper of the vessel was directly responsible for ensuring that undersized fish were not retained onboard.
Principal Fishery Officer Martyn Boyce commented " Anyone fishing within the NWNWSFC District, should expect to be inspected at sea to ensure compliance with fisheries legislation. Minimum landing sizes are set to protect brood stocks and are therefore part of a sustainable fishery management programme. To disregard these restrictions only furthers the argument for large scale buffer zones, and that would certainly disadvantage the local fleet."