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£168,000 penalty for fisheries offences (20 June 2017)

Date: 20/06/2017
Duncan Lewis, Crime Solicitors, £168,000 penalty for fisheries offences

Dutch company Kafish B.V. and Dutch national Peter Kuyt have been prosecuted by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) for 13 breaches of the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967 and the Fisheries Act 1981 at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court.

Katfish B.V. owns the UK-registered trawler Margriet LT36 – Peter Kuyt is the vessel’s master.

The court heard that, during two separate investigations carried out by the MMO, Vessel Monitoring System data and logbook entries identified that the vessel had committed numerous offences between 2016 and 2017.

The first investigation showed that, in 2016, the vessel had on three occasions committed offences of fishing within a seasonal closure area –
and on one occasion, fishing in a real time closure area.

The second investigation revealed that, in 2017, a further eight offences of fishing within a seasonal closure area – and another offence of failing to keep an accurate logbook – were committed between January and March.

Sentencing the owner and master, District Judge Sarah-Jane Griffiths said:

“You have acknowledged that these were serious offences – and it is surprising to me that, after the offences in 2016 were brought to your attention in June, you committed a further eight offences.

“To me it is clear that by that time at least you knew you shouldn’t have been in those areas.”


The vessel being registered in the UK is required to comply with a UK fishing licence.

The company was fined £66,000, with an additional fine of £80,000 to cover the value of the fish caught illegally, plus £3,500 in costs and a victim surcharge of £170.

The vessel master Peter Kuyt was fined £8,536.33, with an additional fine of £15,000 to cover the value of the fish caught illegally, plus £741 in costs and a victim surcharge of £170.

A spokesman for the MMO said:

“The court in this case has sent a clear message that these were serious offences, which were aggravated by the fact that the offences were repeated on numerous occasions.

“The size of the fines imposed by the court in this case shows both the scale of damage to the marine environment caused by offences of this nature and the profits made by the perpetrators of these crimes.

“Fisheries offences like these are committed at the expense of the legitimate, law abiding members of the fishing industry, who rely on the sustainability of fishing grounds for their livelihoods and future.

“The MMO will always take appropriate enforcement action, including pursuing and bringing prosecutions to court to protect the long term viability of the marine environment for future generations.”


Duncan Lewis Criminal Solicitors

Duncan Lewis Criminal Solicitors can advise companies and individuals at any stage of an environmental offence, including charges relating to polluting watercourses, fisheries offences, fly tipping, waste carrier offences, failing to manage hazardous waste, air pollution, noise pollution, or misuse of permitted land.

There are Duncan Lewis offices across England and Wales and in most major cities – and a Duncan Lewis criminal defence solicitor can advise at the start of an investigation by the Environment Agency or local authority and before charges are brought.

For expert legal advice on all environmental offences, call Duncan Lewis criminal solicitors on 0333 772 0409.


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