A firm was hit with a fine of more than £40,000 for illegally dredging in the River Mersey.
Jones Trawlers Ltd and Mr Liam Jones appeared at Liverpool Magistrates Court on Thursday, March 18, charged on four counts of dredging without a permit.
The court heard how between February and March 2019, the scallop dredger “Kingfisher” towed scalloping gear into the Liverpool Bay Special Protection Area and the NWIFCA District, before landing catches to North Wales.
Dredging is not permitted in the area which is home to a number of important species such as molluscs, sponges and star fish.
These species also support the birds that live in the area including protected species like the Red-throated diver.
It is estimated that the seabed could take up to two years to recover from the offences which District Judge Shaw described as being “clandestine profit driven and unscrupulous”.
Jones Trawlers Ltd and Mr Liam Jones were fined a combined total of £48,500 for the offences after entering an earlier guilty plea.
Enter your postcode for the latest coronavirus cases where you live
District Judge Shaw said: “Given the specialist nature of their business its scale and experience together with the previous convictions which have been referred to and the fact that whilst this case has been awaiting sentence they have accumulated a further similar conviction I can comfortably conclude that both the company and Mr Jones operate substantially outside the regulatory framework.”
During the proceedings the defence said the company was suffering financial difficulties.
However, it was deemed that accounts showed considerable profit in previous years followed by corporate restructuring and assertions of financial hardship which had not been explained.
District Judge Shaw ruled that the company Jones Trawlers Ltd had acted recklessly in their offending.
The Company was fined £10,000 for the first three charges and £18,000 for the final charge, with the offence occurring just days after a sentencing for a similar offence in Wales. This brought the total fine to £42,000.
Costs of £15,000 were also awarded to NWIFCA and there was a victim surcharge of £170.
Mr Jones was fined £1,500 for charges one, two and three and £2,000 for charge four, bringing the total fine to £6,500.
No costs were issued but a victim surcharge of £170 was imposed.
