04 March 2016
Two French fishermen have appeared in Jersey’s Royal Court and pleaded guilty to fishing inside the Island’s three-mile exclusive limit and to misreporting fishing zones in the vessel’s logbook.
Arnaud Delalonde, owner and skipper of fishing vessel Pescadore admitted offences on six separate occasions and Tony Mesnage, skipper of fishing vessel, Saltimbanque pleaded guilty to offences on four separate occasions. Both vessels were fishing for scallops using dredges.
Pescadore was found fishing inside the exclusive three-mile limit during a night time operation and officers used satellite tracking and other electronic data to establish that both Pescadore and Saltimbanque had fished inside the three-mile limit on a number of other occasions.
Delalonde was fined a total of £20,000 and Mesnage a total of £10,000.
Assistant Director Marine Resources, Greg Morel said “This was a complex investigation and I am very pleased with the outcome. The regulations are in place to ensure our important marine resources are fished sustainably for this and future generations. The court has sent a clear signal that breaking these rules are viewed very seriously and with be dealt with in a way that reflects this.”
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