Marine Management Organisation
The court heard that in February of 2014 the vessel landed quantities of sole and cod in excess of the monthly limits contained in conditions attached to the vessels fishing licence. The court also heard how the vessel again exceeded this limit in respect of sole in March 2014. The owner of the vessel also asked the court to take into consideration a similar offence in respect of another vessel he owns, the Latney Star FE33 which landed cod in excess of the monthly limits in January 2015.
Neither the owner nor the master of the vessel had any previous convictions.
Having heard the facts and the defendants mitigation, the court fined the master, Scott Possnicker, 4,047.62 and ordered the payment of 120 victim surcharge.
The owner of the vessel, Joseph Watt, was ordered to pay a fine of 4,047.62, a victim surcharge of 120 and was ordered to pay 1560.00 towards the costs of the prosecution.