A fishing boat skipper has been fined £3,211 after being found guilty of illegal fishing in a marine protected area off Ullapool.
Alex Murray, of Lewis, was in charge of the FV Star of Annan while it was dredging for scallops within the Wester Ross Marine Protection Area (MPA) in July 2019.
The case is thought to be only the second of its kind since MPA marine reserves were introduced by the Scottish Government in recent years.
The vessel tows metal rakes to lift and collect King Scallops from the seabed.
Murray denied the allegation but was found guilty after a three day trial at Stornoway Sheriff Court earlier this month.
He said the vessel was forced to seek shelter in the protection zone for the safety of the crew and boat due to engine and machinery problems.
At a sentencing hearing in Stornoway Sheriff Court, Sheriff Gordon Lamont was told Murray benefitted by £1036 from the illegal shellfish catch after deductions for the boat owner and crew wages.
The sheriff said the fine was based on the level of environmental damage, his share of the catch and his financial circumstances.
Sheriff Lamont said: "This type of fishing goes completely against the marine conservation order and (the seabed) will take some time to recover."
The primary purpose of the legal protection is "preservation of the seabed and marine life."
The boat's hydraulic problems ruled out any kind of fishing activity as the winches are connected to the dredging gear, Murray told the trial two weeks ago.
They faced a "dangerous situation" as the wires behind the boat risked getting entangled and had to navigate at slow speed to stop the vessel rolling in the sea swell and weather conditions, he told the court.
Marine conservation charity, Open Seas, later circulated a statement criticising the "disrespectfully small" penalty.
Nick Underdown, spokesperson for the organisation, said: "This fine sends an outrageous message that it pays to fish illegally and damage the environment, because the small criminal penalty is worth the risk.
"This disrespectfully small fine does not reflect the seriousness of inflicting criminal damage to our natural heritage and will not deter illegal fishing in the future.
"In England, authorities can issue unlimited fines at levels set in relation to the turn-
Mr Underdown added: "Dredging inside a protected area has not just illegally enriched a criminal fishing business, it has damaged the interests of other law-
"Maerl habitat is a nursery for marine life, including scallops.
"By illegally towing heavy scallop dredges through this fragile habitat, the scallop dredge industry is literally biting the hand that feeds it, as well as degrading a centuries-
Skipper fined for illegal fishing in marine protected area
29 April 2022