Angling Trust News Release

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I think you'll find they have been fined close to 800,000 pounds plus the cost of their own legal fees. Probably not far short of a million.

They have been ordered to pay back the cost of the value of the fish agreed that they have scammed and admitted to.
The actual sentence for this conspiracy that they have admitted to was a derisery slap on the wrist, a let off. The costs awarded could be some but hopefully all of the prosecutions, it would be quite wrong that the taxpayer is left to pick up the tab for their disgusting illegal activities, they had quota but choose not to use it. This is not the first time this company have gone to court. Obviously it hasn't learned the lesson. As and when the next time it happens, the confiscation should include enough to ensure it does not trade again. Hopefully the powers to be might do the right thing and re-look at the sentence as it wasn't a sentence. The worst part of this, the judge stated that they should take themselves off to the eu and carry on carrying on. No thanks, i wouldn't trust them with me fish pond, let alone the fishing grounds around our coast. There must be a better class of people within the uk who can deal with the eu.

This sort of thing is rife. Look at the Altaire case a few years ago. After everything was paid off they were £1 million in profit from illegal activities. Well done to the angling trust for finally highlighting a very long term problem.

Getting up on your high and mighty self-righteous horse there again Barry.
I've wasted my time in the past trying to explain the ins and outs of the quota system to you in the past, I'm not going to bother this time .
Perhaps you would like to have seen the Stevenson’s put out of business and possibly bought up by Spanish interests, that would be really good for the UK and Uk fish stocks don't you think?

The only thing the Stevenson’s were guilty of as far as I can see is scamming some quota from PO's or slipper skippers while trying to keep the fleet viable and the crews and skippers on a liveable wage.
It seems to me that the judge realised this hence the lighter than expected fines.


With statements like this

Quote

This systemic abuse comes at a time when European fish stocks are at an all time low and the sustainability is in serious question.

not only do the Angling Trust not know any thing about what they are talking about but by constantly stating that fish stocks are in such a perilous state will have little option but to agree on any draconian conservation measures involving RSA put to them by DEFRA.
I suppose when the WWF are tugging the strings you can't expect much else

Afternoon Wurzel,

I just hate theives, It is neither here not there how much they pay their crews as they will get the same wages wherever the proceeds come from. Your right about explaining quota because in this instance it wasn't about quota at all, they had quota, already bought and paid for so don't give it they were poor and hard done by. Do you let it continue then? How many offences do they have to get caught for. As always, the end of the case and out they come with the sob storys of how impossible it all is. Must be some honest fishermen out there who could do a better job and who would like the quota they have, might just do a better job with it. Seems a shame the undertens have to put up with the crumbs at the top end of the channel while the cornish guys who have the top end of the channel quota want more and some don't you think. Watch out if they do as the judge reccommends and they have something to do with running the fishing industry, as you are shaking their hand in admiration, their other is on your wallet.

Hello Barry

I have not read any where it says they had plenty of quota, I have read that they had access to plenty of quota but at a price, in my experience a price that would mean a hefty cut in the crew share.

I also hate thieves but don’t forget Barry these same people who you are accusing of being thieves and committing a disgusting crime were not so long a go considered the salt of the earth, honest hard working folk, the only thing that has changed is management, other than that they are doing nothing different.

I'm waiting for the day when the same happens to RSA as it surely will soon enough.

What is a lawless society? Is it a society of people who ignore laws because it would restrain the way they live there lives? Or is it a society of people who have no or very few laws that effect there way of life so therefore they can more or less do as they want?
I certainly don’t condone law breakers, but I do agree with wurzel that’s it’s easy to criticise someone who is very restricted in what they do while doing what you do with very little restriction at all.
Regards.

When the day comes that you have to run your business relying on theft is the day to pack up, what is the point. Bet they ain't relying on crime to survive at the present. The people who i do feel sorry for are the ones around them, for example there were two owners who had never been on their own vessel, who where fined and had to pay costs because of someone else's conspiricy. Bet the stevenson woman never paid it for them.

Went fishing at the top end of the channel last weekend let half a dozen bass big enough to keep go for the uk and french fleets to fight over, that was without bag limits or quota. Think i should have kept them instead? Mind you i was chaced around the boat with a guy with a landing net. He wasn't trying to help me catch them but to try and prevent me from putting them back. regards from me high horse.

I may turn to burglary ....

I've always been an honest sole,

but there must be other ways of makin' a livin'?