A fishing firm has been fined £7,000 after admitting illegal fishing off the north-east coast.
Usan Salmon Fisheries Ltd breached fisheries legislation twice near Gardenstown, Aberdeenshire, in August 2014 and yesterday the firm was sentenced at Forfar Sheriff Court.
The company had previously admitted nine charges in relation to failing to remove leaders, which help guide salmon into nets at sea, before the shut off time of 6pm on Friday.
Company director George Pullar previously claimed in court that dangerous weather conditions meant the firm had been unable to remove the leaders.
The Montrose-based Usan purchased the fishing rights to the Ythan Estuary in 2014.
However earlier this year the fishery boards of the Rivers Dee, Ythan, Don and Spey joined forced to prevent the company from moving in amid concerns of dwindling salmon and trout populations.
Sheriff Pino Di Emidio said the onus was on the company to comply with both the fisheries legislation and health and safety legislation, adding it could have done “rather more” to remove the netting ahead of the close time.
Mr Pullar – who runs the firm with co-director brother, David – said after yesterday’s hearing that the firm was “naturally disappointed” with the fine, which has to be paid in the next 12 months.
He added: “The whole situation has been brought about because of the archaic fisheries legislation dating from the 1800s.
“We have long argued on the record that such outdated legislation which forces compliance regardless of the weather, sea state or other environmental factors, is not fit for purpose and should be scrapped.”
However Andrew Graham-Stewart – director of the Salmon and Trout Association Scotland – said: “In the face of diminishing stocks, it is even more important now that these conservation measures are not abused. The offences committed constitute serious wildlife crime.”