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Scottish vessel prosecuted for illegal fishing

DEFA suspend licence for three months

A vessel from Kirkcudbright in Scotland has been caught violating the Island's fishing laws.

The Kingfisher BA810, owned by West Coast Sea Products Ltd, was found fishing for king scallops within three nautical miles of the Manx coast, despite not having permission.

Master of the vessel, Anthony John True, and a WCSP representative John Wilson King pleaded guilty to the offence last week, and were fined £12,000 and £5,000 respectively.

The Department for Environment, Food and Agriculture has decided to suspend the Kingfisher's fishing licence for three months, in what it terms a 'zero-tolerance' approach.

The suspension policy was introduced last month, after the Manx government backed down on implementing daily catch checks at Island ports.

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