local work
successful Prosecution for Fisheries Offences
During the trial, Howard Shaw of Park Square Barristers, prosecuting on behalf of NIFCA, informed the court that on the 16 of January 2025 Mrs Denton’s vessel the Andigee WY372 fishing from Blyth harbour, with her husband Michael acting as Master was observed fishing within the NIFCA district with pots without a valid commercial shellfish permit. th On a joint sea patrol on 17 of January, Enforcement Officers from NIFCA and the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) inspected pots set by th
On 20 November at Newcastle’s Quayside Court, Magistrates found Mr Charles “Michael” Denton and Mrs Brenda Denton of Atlee Terrace, Newbiggin by the Sea guilty of breaching national and local fisheries legislation designed to regulate and protect key fisheries along the Northumberland coast. This related to incidents in January 2025 when Mrs Denton’s fishing vessel was observed fishing without a permit and later found to be retaining prohibited shellfish. The case was brought against Mr and Mrs Denton, by the Northumberland Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (NIFCA) who manage the inshore fishery along the Northumberland and North Tyneside coastline.
The Enforcement Officers seized 3 illegally set fleets of gear comprising of 70 pots, one of these fleets, which also contained the stored undersize lobsters, was not displaying required information on its surface markers. Mr and Mrs Denton as Master and Owner of the Andigee respectively had committed 4 offences:
They failed to immediately return to the sea 174 European Lobsters contrary to Section 4 Article 13 of Council Regulation 2019/1241. Failed to return to the sea one berried European Lobster contrary to Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967 in respect of UK SI 2017 No 899.
Andigee and found 174 lobsters that measured
beneath minimum conservation reference size of 87mm one of which was egg bearing, deliberately stored inside for later collection.
NIFCA Lead Enforcement Officer Nick Weir says: “Fishing in Northumberland is economically sensitive and central to our local heritage. Our byelaws and national legislation protect sustainable fishing and healthy seas. NIFCA will pursue anyone who jeopardises the fishery or fails to comply. We also thank the Marine Management Organisation for their assistance.”
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