Big fines for 'greedy' fishermen

The prosecutions, which related to offences in April and May this year, were the latest in a series undertaken by the Sussex sea fisheries committee against the skippers of the pair trawlers L'Ecume II and the Catherine Annie.

In 2001 and 2002, prosecutions by the authority involving the same vessels and owners resulted in successful prosecutions and significant fines amounting to several thousand pounds.

Last Wednesday, Michael Michieli, skipper and owner of the Jersey-registered vessel L'Ecume II, pleaded guilty to the offences of fishing inside the committee's three-mile limit with a vessel over 14 metres in length on April 14 and May 10. Michieli was fined 4,500 and ordered to pay 2,250 towards the prosecution costs.

David Waldron, skipper and owner of the UK-registered vessel Catherine Annie,also pleaded guilty to the same offences and was also fined 4,500 and ordered to pay a further 2,250 prosecution costs.

The court heard that during inspections by the crew of the Sussex fisheries patrol vessel, Watchful, both trawlers were found to have substantial quantities of bream on board.

After the case, chief fishery officer Tim Dapling said: "By taking these fishermen to court, we are sending out a clear message that illegal fishing will not be tolerated.

"Black Bream are particularly susceptible to over-exploitation and given the vulnerability of this species it is important harmful fishing practices are restricted by law, and that these laws are vigorously upheld.

"It is regrettable when fisheries management results in the prosecution of individuals but it was clear that both these fishermen have shown a complete disregard for inshore regulations for financial gain. These were repeat offences and would have caused significant disturbance to spawning grounds off Littlehampton.

"We have to protect local fishermen, manage commercial and recreational fishing as well as maintaining local inshore stocks during critical periods. Our job is getting the balance right."

Littlehampton fisherman, Phil Oxley, said: "Pair trawlers are a real menace. If other fishermen leave their nets out at night the trawlers just steam straight through it. I've seen them do it.

"Last year, I lost about 4,000 worth of nets in just one night. So far this year I've lost about 2,000 worth. But it's not just me, every fisherman in the harbour has lost gear to them.

"When I've phoned them up to complain they just say "you can't prove anything".

"It's not just the nets though, it's the catches. What they take in one day, we would take in a whole season. You can't keep hammering a fishery like that day in day out and expect it to survive."