§ Lord Mason of Barnsleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What were the circumstances of the arrest of an Irish trawler while illegally fishing for salmon off the west coast of Scotland and what fine was imposed.
§ Lord Sanderson of BowdenThe vessel in question was intercepted and boarded at sea as a result of a co-ordinated exercise involving a surveillance aircraft and a fishery protection vessel, both belonging to the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland. The skipper was charged with illegally retaining over 300 salmon on board his vessel and was fined £3,500. In addition, the salmon and nets, valued at around £6,000 in total, were confiscated.