Sunderland fishing novice fined after catching more lobsters than his permit allowed
A Sunderland fishing novice got in too deep when he caught eight undersized lobsters and seven more than he was allowed by his permit, a court heard.
Owen Greenwell, 25, of East Vines, in the city’s East End, had a permit to take just two of the edible crustaceans and they had to be of a legal adult size.
But he was found with a total of nine during a routine inspection on the River Wear by officers of the North Eastern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority.
At South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court, he pleaded guilty to two lobster related catching charges and admitted he had not quite known what he was doing.
Emma Appleton, prosecuting for the fisheries inspectorate, said: “The circumstances are that officers were on routine patrol when two males were observed on a small vessel, moored on the Wear.
“There was a yellow bag-for-life that contained a basket with a lid on it, and there were a number of lobsters inside.
“One lobster was over the minimum conservation size and the other eight were under. The lobsters were returned to the sea alive.
“The defendant did have a permit for fishing, but he was limited to taking two lobsters.
“He said that he had measured the lobsters on the day but said that he was new to fishing pots. He hadn’t had a permit long.
“The undersized lobsters were seized and returned to the sea. The minimum conservation size is so they reach maturity and more stock is retained.”
Greenwell pleaded guilty to a charge of contravening a byelaw under section 155 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, limiting to two the number of lobsters taken.
He also admitted contravening the same section by landing eight undersized lobsters.
Representing himself in court, Greenwell told magistrates: “I’m new and I’ve looked into it now. I’ve also asked people down the fish quay.”
Magistrates fined him £80, with £100 prosecution costs and a £32 victim surcharge and described his offences as being at “low level of harm”.