MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands imposes heavy fines for breaching fishing licenses and false reporting

MV Protegat, a Falkland Islands Fisheries Protection patrol vessel

The Falkland Islands government reported on Friday the successful prosecution and significant fines imposed on defendants involved in breaching fishing licenses and providing false information in fishing reports.

 This case involved the criminal activity in 2015 of the fishing vessel Figaro which was owned by Freiremar SA, chartered by Sulivan Shipping Limited and mastered by Fancisco Perez Baston.

The three defendants were convicted of a total of 33 criminal offences relating to breaching the terms of the fishing license granted to the Figaro and providing false information in fishing reports.

The defendants have been ordered to pay total fines of £165,500 and in addition a confiscation order was made and the catch seized from the Figaro has been forfeited. The defendants were also ordered to pay a contribution to the costs of their prosecution.

The Attorney General of the Falkland Islands stated that “this is the second recent large scale prosecution of offenders who breached the terms of fishing licenses and then provided false information in fishing reports.

These two cases together have resulted in eight offenders being convicted of a total of 78 offences. Financial penalties totaling over £573,000 have been imposed, confiscation orders amounting to over £188,000 made, prosecution costs in the sum of £16,000 recovered and more than 585,000 kilograms (585 tons) of fish seized and forfeited.

These successful prosecutions and the significant penalties imposed in these cases demonstrate that the Government of the Falkland Islands takes the protection of the maritime resources of this country very seriously. The Fisheries Officers deserve congratulations for their hard work and professionalism.”

The conviction detail of Regina v Freiremar SA, Sulivan Shipping Limited and
Francisco Perez Baston:

Convictions: 33 separate offences; Offences: Using fishing vessels in breach of the terms of fishing licenses (Section 167 Fisheries (Conservation and Management) Ordinance 2005); Providing false information in fishing reports (Regulation 61 Fishing Regulations Order 1987)

Total Fines: £165,500; Prosecution Costs: £6,000; Confiscation Order: £33,253.25 Seizure: The entire catch from the Figaro totaling 307,686.35kg / 307.68 tons.