Fishermen fined for catching egg-bearing lobsters

Image caption, The two men illegally landed the "berried" lobsters at Bridlington last year in their trawler, Harvester FH 198 (pictured)

Two fishermen have been fined for illegally catching and landing egg-bearing lobsters.

Richard and Nigel Cammish, both from Filey, had landed the shellfish in their trawler at Bridlington Harbour in November, a court heard.

Removing "berried" lobsters - those carrying eggs attached to their body - from the sea has been against the law since 2017.

The two men admitted the offence at Scarborough Magistrates' Court on 11 June.

Nigel Cammish, 58, pleaded guilty to being the master of the Harvester FH 198 trawler when the vessel landed five egg-bearing lobsters at Bridlington's fish quay on 16 November.

He was fined 拢2,790 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of 拢1,108 and costs of 拢900.

Richard Cammish, 60, admitted the same offence and was fined 拢1,003 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of 拢401 and costs of 拢900.

British trawlers are prohibited by law from fishing for berried lobsters in English waters.

They must not land them into an English port even if they were caught further afield.

Any which are brought into port must be returned to the sea immediately.

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