Hefty fine for fishing boat captain

Skipper plied Manx waters without licence

The skipper of a UK-registered fishing boat has been fined £12,000 for unlawful fishing.

Tobrach N skipper Christopher Thomson's also had to forfeit his catch of queen scallops - worth more than £4,500 - and pay £50 costs.

The vessel wasn't licenced to fish in Manx waters and was spotted by a satellite tracking of its transponder.

Tobrach N was then escorted to Douglas from the south-east of the Island by officers aboard DEFA's fisheries protection boat Barrule.

Thomson pleaded guilty to fishing without a licence when he appeared before the Deputy High Bailiff at Douglas courthouse on Monday (24 Oct).

The court heard he was new to the vessel and had only taken over command two days prior.

It emerged a licence to fish in Manx waters was issued to the previous owners of the boat - however that licence expired once it changed hands.