Poole clam fisher fined £9k

42% of inspected catch under MCRS

A Fisherman from Poole has been fined more than £9,000 for offences relating to retaining undersized clams and failing to submit monthly catch returns.

On 4 September at Poole Magistrates’ Court, Luke James pleaded guilty to retaining onboard his vessel Elmay PE 1218 a quantity of Manila clams below the minimum conservation reference size (MCRS). He also pleaded guilty to a further charge of failing to submit monthly catch returns to the Southern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (SIFCA) within stipulated deadlines.

The court heard that on 21 October, 2023, Mr James was intercepted by SIFCA officers as he headed downstream on the river Frome. Approximately 165kg of Manila clams were found onboard his vessel, of which 42% were found to be below the MCRS of 35mm.

Mr James, who is the skipper and sole owner of the vessel, initially told officers that he had picked up most of the catch from a friend at nearby Wareham Quay. However, subsequent SIFCA enquiries, including the seizure of CCTV evidence, proved this to be false, with Mr James later admitting that he had caught the clams earlier that day in Wareham Channel.

The court also heard that Mr James had been late submitting two of his SIFCA monthly catch returns during the 2023 Poole Harbour dredge fishing season, which is open to permit holders from 25 May to 23 December.

Mr James was ordered to pay a total of £9,093.10, including £1,800 for his breach of the MCRS regulations, £500 for his breach of the SIFCA Poole Harbour Dredge Permit Byelaw and conditions, £5,873.10 prosecution costs and a victim surcharge of £920.

SIFCA principal deputy chief officer Sam Dell said: “This case sends a clear message that failing to comply with the regulations will not be tolerated. I would like to publicly thank the officers involved in this case and recognise their tenacious approach in pursing all lines of enquiry during this investigation.”

This story was taken from the latest issue of Fishing News. For more up-to-date and in-depth reports on the UK and Irish commercial fishing sector, subscribe to Fishing News here or buy the latest single issue for just £3.50 here.

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