£33K financial penalty for Scottish fishing firm which fished for scallops

'Star of Jura' caught in Manx waters without licence

A Scottish firm has been fined £20,000 after being caught fishing in Manx waters without a licence.

The Star Fishing Company Limited, which is based in Oban, blamed a ‘rogue’ skipper for breaking the law last year.

The man was in charge of the ‘Star of Jura’ when it entered the Isle of Man’s territorial area between 1.40am and 4.20am on 3 December.

During that period the crew caught 408 kg of king scallops valued at £8,948; the fishing activity wasn’t logged in the vessel’s logbook.

Fisheries officers from the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture travelled to Scotland to meet and interview the company with the view of bringing prosecutions.

During sentencing at Douglas Courthouse today (24 October) magistrates heard that process had cost taxpayers almost £4,500.

The Star Fishing Company’s advocate told the court the skipper, who had left the UK and moved to Poland before charges could be brought against him individually, had acted without authority.

“It was a frolic of the skipper’s own,” the advocate said: “His actions speak for themselves.”  

He told the court the Star of Jura had sailed from West Sussex, having legitimately collected 30 bags of scallops in UK waters, before moving into Manx waters.

“This would appear to be a one-off involving a rogue skipper,” the advocate added, explaining that the man had been dismissed from the company as a result.

The Star Fishing Company will have 12 months to pay the fine as well as compensation for the catch and the prosecution costs.