THE owners and master of a Dutch beam trawler, Joris Senior (ARM 18), have been ordered by a court to pay more than £7,000 and to forfeit fishing gear valued at around £14,000.

They were convicted by Dover magistrates of using illegal fishing gear in UK waters.

This successful prosecution was a result of joint co operation and enforcement by both the Royal Navy and Dutch Enforcement Authorities.

The Dutch trawler was boarded on Wednesday morning after a joint surveillance operation by HMS Mersey and a Dutch fisheries protection vessel, Barend Biesheuvel.

Charges were brought after the fishing nets were hauled and found to contained "blinders", illegal smaller meshed nets attached inside the legal net, which trap undersized fish.

The vessel was detained in Dover and further investigations revealed a large quantity of undersized fish and more illegal netting.

Paul Johnson, senior fisheries officer from Defra’s Marine Fisheries Agency, said: "Boats using this type of illegal netting are cheating other fishermen and the penalties reflect the seriousness of the offences committed.

"Fisheries enforcement is a difficult and demanding job, designed to protect the interests of the fishing industry as a whole. This successful prosecution is a good example of how by working together the UK along with our Dutch colleagues can reduce illegal fishing and help conserve valuable fish stocks."

Lieutenant Commander Ian Lynn said outside the court: "This is an excellent example that proves joint operations effectively enforce the regulations in areas where previously fishing vessels had been able to cross borders to avoid inspection."

The trawler, which was targeting Dover sole, was boarded 12 nautical miles east of North Foreland.