Fish-dumping case taken to court

Fish-dumping is illegal, according to Article 44 of the marine resources Act.

A Vørn inspector, who had joined the crew on Næraberg’s latest expedition as part of a routine check, noticed the illegal activity.

The inspector immediately informed the crew of the illegality of their actions, but the dumping continued.

It has also emerged that there may be specially designed features on the ship’s sorting board which allow for direct dumping of fish.

When police and Vørn officers boarded Næraberg in Fuglafjørður on Saturday night, captain and crew were interrogated, but only the captain was charged.

Vørn’s head of fisheries control, Jóhan Simonsen, refuses to disclose the amount of fish that was dumped. He says he cannot recall any similar instances of fish dumping.

As this is the first time Vørn has had an inspector on board Næraberg during a fishing expedition, it remains unclear whether fish dumping has previously taken place on the trawler.

The marine resources Act states that the fine for fish dumping is to be determined in relation to the profitability of the vessel in question.

A standard fine for purse seiners and industrial vessels in this context is DKK 650,000. However, in this instance Vørn is calling for a DKK 1,500,000 fine.

This amount will now be determined in court.

When police officers boarded Næraberg in Fuglafjørður on Saturday night, they banned the ship from departing the port. But yesterday the shipping company provided guarantee for the amount, which means that Næraberg was released from its departure ban.

The ship landed in Fuglafjørður on Saturday for bunkering on its way to Kollafjørður. Police have not been informed of whether the captain will plead guilty to the charge of breaching the marine resources Act.

Kringvarp Føroya has contacted ship owner Hanus Hansen, but he declines to comment on the matter.

The police have completed its report, which will now be handed over to the prosecution.

Translated by prosa.fo