McCallig Posted August 2, 2022 Share Posted August 2, 2022 A one-boat local fisherman has been fined £10k for a handful of very slightly undersize lobsters. Some less than 2mm short of the required size. Extraordinarily heavy handed dealing by DEFA and the court. I haven't heard of the Manx fisheries vessel doing anything useful outside of office hours, or taking on some of the big players who play fast and loose with rules and regulations. The fine levied in this case is out of all proportion to the offence. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnSmithBda Posted August 2, 2022 Share Posted August 2, 2022 I'm sure there will be an appeal.... happens everywhere else in the world. However, fishermen do have a "law unto themselves".... everywhere in the world! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Numbnuts Posted August 2, 2022 Share Posted August 2, 2022 Isnt the fine the automatic amount for this offence ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2112 Posted August 2, 2022 Share Posted August 2, 2022 3 hours ago, McCallig said: A one-boat local fisherman has been fined £10k for a handful of very slightly undersize lobsters. Some less than 2mm short of the required size. Extraordinarily heavy handed dealing by DEFA and the court. I haven't heard of the Manx fisheries vessel doing anything useful outside of office hours, or taking on some of the big players who play fast and loose with rules and regulations. The fine levied in this case is out of all proportion to the offence. If you saw the report on the NPM, it’s not so much a report from the court but comes across as a gloating report from DEFA as though they wish set it as an warning or showcase to other fishermen. Perhaps a period of education, support and advice would help to reduce the ‘offences’ and potential convictions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2112 Posted August 2, 2022 Share Posted August 2, 2022 23 minutes ago, Numbnuts said: Isnt the fine the automatic amount for this offence ? I thought justice is supposed to be fair and equitable. Or are IOMG acting like Judge Dread I am the Law! If this is the case why bother with the courts, frogmarch them to the bank or confiscate the boat and equipment, destroying their livelihood to set an example. After all it’s supposed to be worth £2million to the island? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Mexico Posted August 2, 2022 Share Posted August 2, 2022 28 minutes ago, 2112 said: If you saw the report on the NPM, it’s not so much a report from the court but comes across as a gloating report from DEFA as though they wish set it as an warning or showcase to other fishermen. Perhaps a period of education, support and advice would help to reduce the ‘offences’ and potential convictions. This says more about Manx Radio though. They didn't report the original court case on their website, details of which are available from the IOM Newspapers. But DEFA have indeed put out a press release, since, reminding fishermen of the limits and that this is a phased increase, going up again in September. A £10,000 fine has to be seen in the context that this was 17 animals out of a catch of 189 and lobsters are not cheap, so there is clearly a lot of money to be made here. This guy is a commercial operator, not a hobby fisherman, and fines on commercial operations should be enough to deter illegal activities, not just be treated as an operational overhead that allows people to continue breaking the law. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bandits Posted August 2, 2022 Share Posted August 2, 2022 I honestly can’t believe how ridiculous this is. Glass someone in the face and get told to offer them £2,000 in compensation. Land a few undersized crustacean’s get fined £10,000. The world has gone mad. https://www.three.fm/news/isle-of-man-news/local-man-fined-10000-after-landing-undersized-lobsters/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P.K. Posted August 2, 2022 Share Posted August 2, 2022 2 hours ago, Roger Mexico said: A £10,000 fine has to be seen in the context that this was 17 animals out of a catch of 189 and lobsters are not cheap, so there is clearly a lot of money to be made here. This guy is a commercial operator, not a hobby fisherman, and fines on commercial operations should be enough to deter illegal activities, not just be treated as an operational overhead that allows people to continue breaking the law. It's 9% of the catch. Spread that out over the season and it becomes serious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty Buggane Posted August 2, 2022 Share Posted August 2, 2022 Meanwhile Scots/English/Irish boats fish our sea with impunity. Scollop's that are undersized here are perfectly legal to be landed in Scotland and there is just three fishery offices for the west coast of England. Do not have a scooby about Ireland. And we have a fishery boat but no one to man it. And even if we did it only went out office hours leaving the other sixteen a rite free for all.🤮 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BriT Posted August 2, 2022 Share Posted August 2, 2022 I’m not really that au fait with the fishing game but do lobster fishermen have to go round with a set of vernier calipers measuring everything they catch to the nearest millimeter? Sounds like a massive waste of time and effort. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WTF Posted August 2, 2022 Share Posted August 2, 2022 44 minutes ago, BriT said: do lobster fishermen have to go round with a set of vernier calipers measuring everything they catch to the nearest millimeter? Sounds like a massive waste of time and effort. it could save you 10k , it isn't like they catch 1000's a day , if we said he had 200 in his catch instead 189 that's £50 to check each lobster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Banky Posted August 2, 2022 Share Posted August 2, 2022 1 hour ago, BriT said: I’m not really that au fait with the fishing game but do lobster fishermen have to go round with a set of vernier calipers measuring everything they catch to the nearest millimeter? Sounds like a massive waste of time and effort. Yes, that's exactly what we did when fishing out of Peel. Not just lobster, but crab too. Then when on Queenie boat, we measured them also ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bandits Posted August 2, 2022 Share Posted August 2, 2022 4 minutes ago, Banky said: Yes, that's exactly what we did when fishing out of Peel. Not just lobster, but crab too. Then when on Queenie boat, we measured them also ! Sounds like a great day out. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Banky Posted August 2, 2022 Share Posted August 2, 2022 41 minutes ago, Bandits said: Sounds like a great day out. Unlike some, we worked our bolox off, paid our taxes, and not like the When I's now, were a burden on the government..🖕🏼 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Numbnuts Posted August 2, 2022 Share Posted August 2, 2022 (edited) Measuring lobsters is not such a big deal really. If doing it regularly most are obviously too small or clearly legal . After youve checked for clipped or berried ones the ones you aren't sure about takes no time to measure with a gauge . I actually didn't know till now that the legal size went up in 2021 . Not had pots out for maybe 10 years Edited August 2, 2022 by Numbnuts 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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