Question reference: S4W-23731
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for Argyll and Bute, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 18 December 2014
-
Current status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 9 January 2015
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many prosecutions for (a) illegal trawling, (b) illegal dredging and (c) damage to static fishing gear there have been relating to alleged activities in the Argyll and Bute parliamentary constituency in each of the last five years and how many resulted in convictions.
Answer
Marine Scotland Compliance has powers to enforce fishery offences. This includes being able to refer cases regarding such offences directly to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) for consideration for prosecution.
Marine Scotland Compliance has not referred to the COPFS any cases of (a) illegal trawling or (b) illegal dredging in the Argyll and Bute parliamentary constituency in any of the last five years. However, there were two instances of illegal trawling in the seasonal Clyde closure detected and in both cases the masters were offered a £1,000 fixed penalty notice as an alternative to consideration for prosecution.
In terms of (c), Marine Scotland Compliance has no statutory powers to enforce offences in relation to damage to static fishing gear. This is a common law offence and a matter for the police.