Fisherman fined for 'small' catch

A fisherman has been ordered to pay more than £1,500 by a Cumbrian court for landing fish that were too small.

John Teggarty, 48, of County Louth, Southern Ireland, pleaded guilty at Whitehaven Magistrates Court to landing undersized plaice.

Mr Teggarty, skipper of the Irish Enterprise, landed his catch at Whitehaven Harbour in May.

He was spotted by a senior fisheries officer and subsequently fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £580 costs.

Safeguarding stocks

Officers found 295 of 686 plaice checked were under the legal minimum length of 27cm.

Mr Teggarty, a fisherman for 25 years, pleaded guilty, was excused from attending court in person and was dealt with in his absence.

Magistrates agreed there had been no criminal intent, but said Mr Teggarty must be held accountable for the offence.

After the hearing chief fisheries officer David Dobson said: "These are conservation measures we are enforcing and are designed to protect the marine environment and safeguard fish stocks for the future.

"It is in every fisherman's interest to abide by them. Most fisherman stick to the rules, but we will prosecute those that don't whenever we can."