French Fishing Boss and Skipper Hit with £14,380 Fine Over Illegal Nets
The owner and skipper of the France-registered fishing vessel Felir SB918511 have been slammed with a £14,380 bill by Plymouth magistrates. The pair were fined £8,000, ordered to cough up £6,000 in costs, plus a £380 victim surcharge.
Illegal Diamond Mesh Nets Found on Felir
The court heard that Felir SAS and its master, Ludovic Fourgault, admitted using a banned device on their fishing gear. A diamond-shaped mesh was illegally attached over the square mesh panel, reducing the mesh size and breaking the law.
This device didn’t meet the standards set by European fishing regulations, violating the Fisheries Act 1981 and EU Regulation 2019/1241.
Routine Sea Inspection Uncovers Major Breach
Marine Officers from the MMO caught the vessel red-handed during a routine check on 12 September 2020, about 40 miles south of Lizard Point. The vessel was immediately detained at Plymouth harbour.
Investigators found a second net carrying the same outlawed diamond mesh, proving the entire catch was illegally caught.
Costly Consequences for Defendants
The defendants claimed it was their first offence and promised fixes to prevent future breaches. But the fallout was harsh. Detention in Plymouth cost the company a whopping £100,000 in lost fishing time.
On top of hefty fines, they face around £45,000 in legal fees plus several thousand pounds in dock charges. A costly lesson from a costly mistake.
