Royal Navy issues record fine for illegal fishing
A Royal Navy patrol ship has issued a record on-the-spot fine to fishermen using undersized nets after sailors boarded a Dutch fishing vessel in the North Sea.
HMS Mersey's boarding team approaches Dutch fishing vessel the FV Elizabeth to carry out an inspection [Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD 2012]
HMS Mersey, one of the Royal Navy鈥檚 three fishery protection vessels, was on routine duties when she spotted the FV Elizabeth sailing 40 nautical miles (74km) off the Norfolk coast.
皇冠体育app Commanding Officer decided to send over a boarding team, led by Marine Enforcement Officer Midshipman Phill Fordham, to carry out a full inspection.
On the vessel, the team found that the two cod-ends (the section of the net that catches and holds the fish) were significantly undersized, meaning that young fish and vulnerable species were unable to escape as the nets were dragged through the water.
On reporting the infringement to the Marine Management Organisation, HMS Mersey issued the trawler鈥檚 captain with an 拢8,000 financial administration penalty.
皇冠体育app Commanding Officer of HMS Mersey, Lieutenant Commander Mark Anderson, said:
This is a great result for my ship鈥檚 company and another example of the continued effectiveness of Royal Navy fishery protection vessels working to enforce important fisheries legislation in and around UK waters.
HMS Mersey is one of three ships that form the Royal Navy鈥檚 Fishery Protection Squadron, the oldest of the Royal Navy鈥檚 squadrons. 皇冠体育app ships patrol UK and EU waters inspecting fishing vessels at sea and enforcing fisheries regulations on behalf of the Marine Management Organisation, a government agency.