Solway Harvester sister vessel fined for illegal fishing

Sat, 24 Jan 2015

Tobrach-N

A vessel has been fined £15,000 for the illegal fishing of king scallops in Isle of Man waters.

Scottish vessel Tobrach-N is a sister vessel to the Solway Harvester - which sank in Manx waters in 2000.

It was boarded off the Island's west-coast by officers from the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture on Monday.

It was found to have eight dredgers on each side - contrary to Manx regulations of a maximum number of seven per side - as a result, it was detained in Peel.

The Deputy High Bailiff imposed the fine, alongside an additional £125 in costs and ordered that the skipper's £5,423 catch be forfeited.

Sea Fisheries manager Kim Etherton says she hopes it acts as a deterrent for others who aren't adhering to the law: