MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands' trawlers under investigation for alleged misreported catches

Fishing companies applied for the release of the vessels which had been called in by the Director of Fisheries John Barton for investigation in late June

Three Falkland Islands fishing vessels' owner/operators were ordered by the Supreme Court to pay £200.000 security bonds to return to sea while investigations are ongoing on potential anomalies on their catches and species reports. The value of the vessels range between one and 3.5 million pounds.

 The fishing companies applied for the release of the vessels which had been called in by the Director of Fisheries John Barton for investigation in late June early July.

A fourth vessel was also called in but has since returned to fishing grounds.

The Director of Fisheries position was that he was happy to release the vessels subject to suitable conditions being imposed by the court.

Crown Prosecutor Simon Rowe explained that when a vessel is in Falklands waters, reports as to what is on board and daily catch reports are submitted. When the vessel departs, fish end reports are also filed as part of the master of the vessel’s responsibilities.

Prosecutor Rowe said it had been noted that there were potential anomalies with the reports from the ships in question and when examined there had been suggestion that non-authorized species of fish had been caught.

The vessels were called in for catch verification and it was apparently discovered that the trawlers were carrying significantly different quantities of fish types than had been reported.

In effect one of the vessels had some £200,000 market value of non-licensed fish, while the other two an estimated £86,000 and £36,000 respectively.

To date just the physical investigation such as unloading and stevedoring had cost more than £25,000, and should there be a trial costs would be substantially higher, he said.

The catch has all been seized and it is suspected to be the proceeds of illegal activity.

Rowe said to give a flavor as to how serious allegations of unlicensed fishing could be, revealed that the maximum penalty could reach £625,000 as well as imprisonment for up to three years for the responsible individual.

Acting Judge Clare Faulds reminded that no charges had been brought at the present time, and that the only matter currently before the court was the application for release of the vessels.
“The parties as the subject of an investigation remain innocent,” she said.

In addition to the £200,000 security bond, conditions including daily catch reports even when on the high seas; returning to Stanley whenever reasonably directed to do so by the senior fishery protection officer or the court and submitting to reasonable requests for catch verification at the vessel owners expense, have been imposed.

The situation is to be reviewed on September 22, however it was noted that it would not be necessary for the vessels to return to Stanley on that date. (Based on Penguin News)