Call for tougher penalties for crime at sea

A Labour MSP is pushing for tougher penalties for those who damage protected areas at sea.

Claudia Beamish wants to change the law so those caught illegally damaging marine protected areas are sentenced to up to a year behind bars, in addition to fines of up to £50,000 that were introduced in 2010.

The changes she is proposing to the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Bill would mean that, for the first time, offences against marine wildlife would be dealt with in the same way as similar wildlife crime on land.

There have been 112 reports of suspected

“There has been repeated damage to marine wildlife”

incursions into Scotland’s protected seas between 2015 and 2019, with Marine Scotland having in some cases gathered sufficient evidence to charge vessels operating illegally and issued fixed penalty notices.

In recent years, no fine has exceeded £10,000 for illegal fishing in a closed area in Scotland, with penalties usually less than this.

Campaigners have backed her amendments, which will be debated by MSPs tomorrow.

Phil Taylor, head of policy and operations at Open Seas, which works to protect the marine environment, said there has been “repeated damage to marine wildlife caused by illegal fishing inside marine protected areas”.

He added: “It would be irrational to treat wildlife crimes at sea as somehow less serious as those on land. It is clear that the penalties issued to date have not been enough to deter illegal fishing and this needs to end.”