02 July 2012
Illegal fishing in Lyme Bay - Prosecution
The owner and master, Mark Higgins, of the Brixham-based fishing vessel Kelly Marena II (BM454) was sentenced at Weymouth Magistrates' Court on 28 June 2012 for fishing illegally within a protected area of Lyme Bay in Dorset. Mr Higgins of Chelston, Torquay was ordered to pay £4,015 after pleading guilty to dredging for shellfish and demersal trawling in the designated area contrary to the Lyme Bay Designated Area (Fishing Restrictions) Order 2008. Currently such fishing activity is prohibited in a designated 60 square-mile area of Lyme Bay, which is also a candidate special area of conservation (cSAC). On 20 December 2011, Dorset Police Air Surveillance Unit was enlisted by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) to observe fishing activity near to the Lyme Bay restricted area. The vessel was recorded by the police helicopter off the coast of Burton Bradstock within the restricted area close to its border. It appeared to be using towed gear and dredging within the restricted zone. Mr Higgins was interviewed by the MMO on 27 January 2012 where he admitted being the owner and master of the vessel at the time of the incident and that he was aware of the restricted area, which he often fished close to. Helicopter surveillance footage and a statement from helicopter observer PC Leeding was presented as evidence of the illegal fishing activity. To read more
