Boat owner fined for failing to declare landings

A FAILURE to declare seafood caught over a one-month period by a boat that was still under his ownership, while being operated by someone else, has landed a man from Urafirth with a £1,200 fine.

Michael Herridge, from Valladale, admitted at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday to failing to submit details of landings through a FISH1 form to the Fishery Office on five separate occasions at Sullom and elsewhere between 24 October and 20 November 2015.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said the Karanna was being used by someone else at the time after the 36 year old had passed it on – but as there was no legal sale, Herridge was still liable.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said the value of the catches over the time period was £1,486.72.

He said Herridge was offered a fixed penalty fine at the time, but he turned it down.

The fiscal said the 36 year old had his “head in the sand to avoid his obligations”.

Allan said his client started fishing with the boat in 2014 but stopped after suffering a relationship breakdown the following year, passing it on to someone else during a period of personal “disarray”.

He confirmed that Herridge received no benefit of the undeclared landings and he added that the Karanna has since been legally moved on.

Sheriff Philip Mann said he would have imposed a “significant penalty” if Herridge was still operating the boat.

However, he took into account his personal circumstances and the fact that he didn’t benefit from the landings and imposed the £1,200 fine.