New penalty fine system for fishermen who break rules
Published Date:
07 May 2008
By Richard Hunt
A NEW Financial Administrative Penalty system came into force in England and Wales on April 28 for fishermen found breaking minor EU rules.
Fishermen and vessel owners will be given the choice of a paying a fixed penalty instead of criminal prosecution in the courts.
The penalties – ranging from £250 to £2,000 for a first offence – apply to owners, masters, and or charterers and representatives of all English and Welsh fishing vessels wherever they are, and to all other fishing vessels within English and Welsh waters.
For a second offence penalties range from £500 to £4,000. A third similar offence would result in prosecution through the courts.
In all cases, if the owner pays the fixed penalty within 28 days the skipper's/charterers penalty will deem to have also been paid so they will no longer be liable.
Marine and Fisheries Agency operations director, David Holliday said: "It will allow masters and owners to avoid criminal prosecution, and reduce uncertainties over fines by having clearly published fixed penalties."
The full article contains 179 words and appears in Fleetwood Weekly News newspaper.
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Last Updated:
06 May 2008 12:03 PM
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Source:
Fleetwood Weekly News
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Location:
Fleetwood
