At the Portsmouth Magistrates Court, on Tuesday 1st December 2015, Paul Lambert, 40, of East Cowes on the Isle of Wight, pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay fines and costs totalling £4300 for retaining whelks below the minimum legal size on board his fishing vessel Katie P176, contrary to European Fisheries Technical Conservation Measures regulations.
On the 29th July 2015 Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA) Officers conducted an inspection of the catch in that vessel alongside The Camber in Portsmouth. Officers located 11 sacks of whelks and found that 31% of the shellfish were under the minimum European size of 45mm.
Mr Lambert had appeared in Court on the previous day for a similar offence that had occurred on the 25th February 2015 where IFCA Officers located 23 sacks of whelks and found that 39% of the shellfish were under the minimum European size of 45mm.
Commenting on the case Ian Jones, IFCA Deputy Chief Officer, said ‘The whelk fishery in our District is very important to the local commercial fishing industry. Minimum size legislation is the principle management tool to protect the whelk and the taking of undersized shellfish undermines the purpose of such legislation and protection of juvenile stock. Southern IFCA is committed to protecting the fishery and by taking these offenders to Court we aim to ensure healthy seas, sustainable fisheries and a viable industry’.
Mr Jones further stated ‘In 2014, Mr Lambert paid £1500 in Financial Administration Penalties for two similar offences and in July 2015 was ordered to pay fines and costs of £2620 for another similar offence. This type of recidivist offending has a direct impact on legitimate operators and as such will not be tolerated.’
Magistrates warned Mr Lambert of the consequences of being brought before the court for any further fisheries offences, as fines and costs would continue to escalate putting his financial position and livelihood in jeopardy. For more information see: