French trawler skipper fined €18k

A FRENCH skipper who admitted he was “bottom-trawling” in a prohibited area was ordered to pay a total of €18,000.

Arvag II master, Alain Nedelek, aged 52, came before Cork Circuit Criminal Court on a signed plea of guilty to two fisheries offences.

Firstly, he admitted the offence of bottom-trawling 104km south west of Mizen Head where such fishing is not permitted. He also pleaded guilty to failing to keep an accurate record of the fish caught, in particular, failing to record the catching of 80kg of a deep sea species known as blue mouth.