The skipper of a shellfish trawler has been found guilty of illegally fishing in a banned zone on the mainland side of the Minch.
Alex Murray had denied dredging for clams in the Wester Ross Marine Protection Area (MPA) on 18th July 2019.
During a trial at Stornoway Sheriff Court, Murray said for the safety of the crew and vessel when machinery problems arose, he took the FV Star of Annan inside the zone to seek shelter in the lee of the Summer Isles.
Without working winches they could not haul up fishing gear stuck partly below the sea surface. Neither could they be able to carry out any fishing activity he told the court.
The court heard two conflicting views over why the boat was carrying out a pattern of movements which looked to witnesses as if it was towing dredges.
FV Star of Annan was required to navigate at slow speed and in certain directions while undergoing repairs and “marking wires” to prevent the vessel rolling in the sea swell and weather conditions, he told the court.
Otherwise they faced a "dangerous situation" if the wires behind the boat twisted together the trial heard.
Four witnesses told the court they observed the Star of Annan movements within the zone.
An underwater video filmed by diver Alexander Mackenzie six days following the incident showed signs of dredge fishing on the sea floor.
Defence advocate Rosalyn McTaggart highlighted the gap between the incident occurring and the footage date, saying there was nothing distinctively linking the dredge markings to the MFV Star of Annan.
She said the boat was making repairs, struggling with machinery faults and the effects of the swell, and had to keep moving at slow speed to prevent wire entanglement.
Procurator fiscal Miriam Clark said the vessel's manoeuvres and speeds were "all consistent with fishing."
Sheriff Gordon Lamont found Murray guilty. Sentence was deferred for two weeks.
Scallop boat skipper found guilty of illegal fishing
14 April 2022
FV Star of Annan