Vessel master fined for failing to declare catches
David Parry, master of British registered fishing vessel Le Men DU (FY408), was ordered to pay a total of £7,841 by Barnstaple Magistrates Court on 19 December 2022 following a successful prosecution by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO).
This sum was made up of a fine of £2,225, a victim surcharge of £225 and costs of £5,365.
Between 5 July 2019 and 25 September 2019 Mr Parry failed to submit landing declarations to the MMO in respect of five fishing trips. As the master of the vessel during these fishing trips, it was the responsibility of Mr Parry to ensure these landing declarations were submitted to the MMO in accordance with the regulations. Whilst electronic logs were submitted during the trips, which stated the time the vessel departed, the fishing activities undertaken, estimates of the amount of fish caught, the species and the geographical area of the catch and time of return, on each occasion the landing declaration, which confirms the weight of fish caught during each fishing trip was not submitted. This is information which is required to be provided in order to manage and conserve fish populations and help to ensure long term sustainability of UK fisheries for the benefit of the fishing industry and the wider community.
Mr Parry failed to attend court of several occasions, ultimately attending after a warrant was issued for his arrest. He pleaded not guilty at his first attendance at court and a trial was listed to take place on 19 December 2022 when Mr Parry attended and changed his plea to guilty.
The owner of the vessel had previously been convicted and sentenced in relation to the same matter.
An MMO spokesperson, said:
“It’s our responsibility to protect and manage fish stocks sustainably for the wider fishing industry and future generations. It is therefore important for owners and masters to follow rules that are in place. We will always take proportionate and appropriate action, including prosecution, to make sure that those who break the rules do not benefit from illegal activity.’’