Trawlermen fined heavily

Two trawlermen have been ordered to pay almost £4,000 in fines and costs after they admitted flouting fishing regulations.

Officers from HMS Tyne boarded a trawler called Trustful in the North Sea on November 5 last year and carried out checks on the vessel.

It was found the amount of cod in the catch was more than permitted, and that the fishing net was undersized.

After both pleaded guilty to two offences at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court, skipper Peter Richards, from Blyth was given a £100 fine, £15 surcharge and ordered to pay £1,682 costs, while Allan Cowie, the owner of the boat who was not on board at the time, was given a £100 fine, £15 surcharge and ordered to pay £1,682 costs.