Enforcement activities

The table below gives details of current investigations as well as sanctions and prosecutions brought by Cornwall IFCA.

Cornwall IFCA will bring enforcement action against breaches of some European and National fisheries legislation, as well as local byelaws.

For more information about our regulations and byelaws please, click here .

For more information about the penalties or sanctions available to us please read our enforcement strategy click here .

If you would like to discuss any of the incidents reported below, or if you would like any clarification on any of the legislation we enforce please contact us .

Note: A FAP is a Financial Administrative Penalty. The Authority may issue a FAP up to £10,000, as an alternative to criminal prosecution in certain circumstances. A FAP is only offered when the Authority is prepared to instigate legal proceedings and prosecute should the offer not be accepted.

Incident date

Offence description

Outcome of investigation



13/09/24

Using a net to fish in a river/estuary, retaining bass form a Bass Nursery Area and retaining undersized fish

Under investigation



13/08/24

Retaining mutilated and v-notched lobsters   

Verbal warning issued to master



09/08/24

Using a boat to remove more than two lobsters without a permit 

Under investigation



10/07/24

Retaining undersized lobster   

Verbal warning issued to master



26/06/24

Retaining undersized edible crab   

Verbal warning issued to master



25/06/24

Retaining undersized spider crab 

Verbal warning issued to master



20/06/24

Using scallop dredges during curfew hours

Verbal warnng issued to master



06/06/24

Fishing from a boat in a Bass Nursery Area using sand eel as a bait

Under investigation



05/06/24

Using a boat to remove more than two lobsters without a permit and undersized lobster

Under investigation



31/05/24

Retaining v-notched lobster 

Verbal warning issued to Master



29/05/24

Retaining berried lobster 

Verbal warning issued to master



29/05/24

Retaining berried lobster   

Verbal warning issued to master



15/05/24

Trawling with over-powered fishing vessel

Case discontinued



02/05/24

Retaining berried lobster and undersized lobster   

Written warning issued to owner



23/04/24

Retaining berried lobster and undersized spider crab   

Offical caution issued to owner



17/04/24

Retaining; undersized male edible crab, undersized female edible crab, undersized spider crab, mutilated lobster  

Under investigation



23/11/23

Using a boat to remove more than two crawfish without a permit, and retianing undersized crawfish 

Official caution issued to owner



22/11/23

Using a boat to remove more than two crawfish without a permit, and retianing undersized crawfish  

Official caution issued to owner



17/11/23

Using a net to fish in a river/estuary

Under investigation



25/10/23

Using a boat to remove more than 2 lobsters without a permit, undersized lobster, undersized male edible crab

Official caution issued to owner



03/08/23

Retaining more than two bass per day as a recreational fisher 

Prosecution in Court
Owner: Fine £120 + Costs £2000 + surcharge £48



01/08/23

Berried lobster, undersized lobster

Verbal warning



26/07/23

Berried lobster   

Verbal warning



12/07/23

Using a boat to remove more than 2 lobsters without a permit

Official caution issued to owner



29/6/23

Undersized lobster                                                                                      

Official caution issued to owner



13/6/23

Using a boat to remove more than 2 lobsters without a permit

Written warning 



04/5/23

Retaining berried lobster  

Verbal warning



06/3/23

Using a boat to remove more than 2 lobsters without a permit   

Verbal warning



14/2/23

Berried Lobster, undersized spider crab 

Prosecution in Court
Master: Fine £440 + costs £2,020.06 + surcharge £176
Owner: Fine £1173 + Costs £2020.06 + surcharge £469



09/2/23

Using scallop dredges during curfew hours   

Prosecution in Court
Master: Fine £625 + costs £1,000 + surcharge £250
Owner: Fine £20,000 + Costs £7,904.48 + surcharge £2,000



10/01/23

Using scallop dredges during curfew hours, using a vessel exceeding 16.46m overall length to fish for shellfish      

Prosecution in Court
Master: Fine £10,200 + costs £1,716+ surcharge £4,080
Owner: Fine £10,400 + Costs £4,645 + surcharge £4,160



19/12/22

Landing berried lobster, landing undersized lobster, landing lobster with a mutilated tail  

Prosecution in Court 
Master: Fine £6,870, costs 2 162 + surcharge £2,478
Owner: Fine £6,870, costs 2 162 + surcharge £2,478



07/12/22

Undersize male edible crab 

Verbal Warning



1/12/22

Berried Lobster  

Prosecution in Court with along with case 12/05/22
Master: Fine £933 + costs £3 120 + surcharge £93
Owner: Fine £15 000 + Costs £3 120 + surcharge £190



04/8/22

Retaining more than two bass per day as a recreational fisher     

Written warning


19/07/22

Using scallop dredges during curfew hours

Case discontinued


19/07/22

Retaining and undersized lobster, retaining a lobster with a mutilated tail           

£500 FAP paid and written warning


15/07/22

Using a boat to remove more than 2 lobsters without a permit 

£250 FAP paid


19/05/22

Berried and V-notched Lobster

Prosecution in court
Master: Fine £3.338 and Victim surcharge £190
Owner: Fine £20,000, Costs £6309.90 


12/05/22

Berried Lobster

Prosecution in Court along with case 01/12/22


30/03/22

Cut-out Scallops
Obstruction of a fishery officer

£1000 FAP paid by Owner/master
Offical Caution accpeted by two Crewmen


24/03/22

Undersized Edible Crab

Verbal Warning


10/08/21

Undersized Scallops

Verbal Warning


30/06/21

Undersized Lobster

Verbal Warning


24/06/21

Undersized lobster

Verbal Warning


31/03/21

Public order offense and obstruction of an Enforcement Officer

Written warning


31/03/21

Undersized Lobster

£500 FAP paid


15/01/21

Undersized Crawfish

Verbal Warning


22/09/20

Obstructing an officer

Prosecution in court
Master/Owner: Fine £180, Costs £280 and Victim surcharge £34


August 2020

Failure to meet permit condition by not returning monthly catch data

FAP declined: 
Prosecution in court: Fine: £900, Victim Surcharge: £90 and Costs: £1,743.12


05/08/20

Retaining undersized lobster

Case discontinued


07/07/20

Fishing using electric current

Prosecution in Court along with case 07/01/20, 01/08/19 and 20/03/19


08/01/20

Fishing using electric current
Using vessel to fish without a fishing licence 
Using unregistered vessel to fish for profit       

Prosecution in court:
Owner: 12month conditional discharge, Victim Surcharge £21 and Costs: £6000           


07/01/20

Fishing using electric current
Gather bivalve mollusc contrary to food hygiene reg.
Transferring criminal property

Prosecution in Court along with case 07/07/20, 01/08/19 and 20/03/19


15/11/19

Fishing using electric current
Gather bivalve mollusc contrary to food hygiene reg.
Transferring criminal property

Prosecution in Court
Owner: FIne £1,000
Master: Fine £2,500 + proceeds of crime award £61,790.09


01/08/19

Fishing using electric current
Gather bivalve mollusc contrary to food hygiene reg.
Transferring criminal property

Prosecution in Court along with case 07/07/20, 07/01/20, and 01/08/19


09/07/19

Using a boat to remove more than 5 shellfish without a permit
Retaining berried lobster
Retaining undersize lobster
Retaining V notched or mutilated lobster

£1,750 FAP paid


 

08/07/19

Retaining undersize spider crab

£500 FAP paid


21/05/19

Retaining undersize lobster Retaining egg carrying (berried) lobster.

£500 FAP paid for undersized lobster
Written warning issued for berried lobster


20/06/19

Retaining egg carrying (berried) lobster.

Written warning issued


 

18/04/19

Using a prohibited type of net in an estuary

Written warnings issued


 

18/03/19

Using scallop dredges during curfew hours

Prosecution in court
Master/Owner: Two year conditional discharge; Costs £3,953.42 and victim surcharge £20


 

11/03/19

Retaining undersize scallops

£500 FAP paid and written warning issued


 

20/03/19

Fishing using electric current
Gather bivalve mollusc contrary to food hygiene reg.
Transferring criminal property

Prosecution in Court along with case 07/07/20, 07/01/20, and 01/08/19
Owner/master: Guilty awaiting sentencing
Crew: Fines £18 750 and costs £13 000


 

13/02/19

Obstructing an officer

Prosecution in court
Master (and owner) fined £1100; Costs £3753.89; Victim surcharge £110.
UPDATE: On appeal, fine reduced to £200 and victim surcharge to £30


 

16/02/19

Using bottom towed gear in a prohibited area
Using scallop dredges during curfew hours

£3000 FAP paid and written warning issued


 

30/01/19

Retaining undersize scallops

£500 FAP paid


 

10/01/19

Using bottom towed gear in a prohibited area
Using scallop dredges during curfew hours
Retaining undersize scallops

Prosecution in court
Master fined £24,300;Costs £8,023 + Victim surcharge £170
Owner fined £13,070; Cost £4,011.50 + Victim surcharge £170


27/9/18

Retaining bass when fishing recreationally during a closed period                              

Written warning issued to master
Advisory letter issued to owner


18/9/18

Removing more than 5 shellfish without permit                                      

£2250 FAP paid


22/8/18

Retaining undersize scallops
Retaining shellfish without a permit
Retaining undersize male edible crab
Retaining undersize female edible crab
Retaining undersize spider crab
Retaining parts of crab
Using dredges and retaining catch on board less than 95% bivalve molluscs (investigated but not prosecuted)

Prosecution in court
Master fined £8334 + £4365.62 costs+ £170 victim surcharge
Owner: Discontinued


22/8/18

Retaining undersize scallops                                      

Verbal warning


7/8/18

Retaining parts of crawfish 

Official caution issued to master
Written warning issued to owner


6/6/18

Retaining v-notched lobster

Verbal warning


5/6/18

Retaining berried lobster
Retaining undersized male edible crab
Retaining undersized female edible crab


£1000 FAP paid

30/5/18 -2/6/18

Using a vessel exceeding 16.46m overall length to fish for shellfish

Master: Fine £6400; Costs £3481.42; Victim Surcharge £170   
Owner:  Fine £3200; Costs £2000; Victim Surcharge £160   


25/5/18

Removing more than 5 shellfish without permit

Written warning


25/5/18

Removing more than 5 shellfish without permit

Written warning


23/5/18

Removing undersized male edible crab Removing undersized lobster Landing undersized male edible crab

Written warning


11/4/18

Removing mutilated lobster Removing berried lobster Removing berried crawfish

Master and Owner issued written warning


9/4/18

Removing undersized lobster Landing berried lobster Landing undersized edible crab

Written warning


04/18

Using a vessel to trawl with engine power greater than 221KW

£2000 FAP Paid


12/12/17

Using bottom towed gear in a prohibited area

£1000 FAP Paid


14/10/17

Removing berried lobster

Written warning


25/09/17

Failure to meet permit condition by not returning monthly catch data

Official caution issued


13/09/17

Using scallop dredges during curfew hours
Failure to complete a fishing logbook

£1000 FAP Paid
£1000 FAP Paid


31/08/17

Using bottom towed gear in a prohibited area

Case discontinued


25/08/17

Using bottom towed gear in a prohibited area
Fail to keep a fishing logbook of operations 

Owner: Official caution issued
Master:  Fines and costs totalling £6150


17/07/17

Using bottom towed gear in a prohibited area

Owner fined £9500 + £4285.75 costs awarded to local fisherman for damaged/lost gear
Master – Case discontinued


12/7/17

Retaining detached crab claws whilst fishing with pots

Verbal warning


26/06/17

Removing mutilated lobster
Removing undersized male edible crab
Removing undersized female edible crab
Removing undersized spider crab

Official caution issued to Master and owner.


16/04/17

Failure to meet permit condition by not returning monthly catch data

Prosecution in court
Master/owner fined £1700 + £2500 costs+ £150 victim surcharge.


16/02/17

Failure to meet permit condition by not returning monthly catch data

Official caution issued


31/08/2016

Hand-gathering mussels without a licence in the Fal Fishery

Advisory Letter


25/08/2016

Using scallop dredges during curfew hours

Master and Owner issued formal written warning


11/08/2016

Using scallop dredges during curfew hours

Prosecution in court
Master fined £4000 + £3574 costs + £120 victim surcharge.
Owner fined £2000 + £2134 costs + £120 victim surcharge.


26/05/16

Using bottom towed gear in prohibited area

Prosecution in court
Master fined £440 + £183.17 costs + £44 victim surcharge. Owner fined £15000 + £2000 costs + £170 Victim surcharge.


22/04/2016

Removing undersized lobster
Removing Berried lobster

Written warning


17/04/2016

Using a of fixed net failing to satisfy 3m headline depth

Case discontinued


05/04/2016

Removing undersized male edible crab
Removing berried lobster
Removing mutilated lobster

£250 FAP paid


31/03/2016

Using bottom towed gear in prohibited area

Verbal warning


10/03/2016

Retaining parts of crab from pots
Retaining undersized velvet crab
Failure to meet permit conditions by not returning monthly catch data

£2000 FAP paid


11/02/2016

Using bottom towed gear in Special Area of Conservation
Using scallop dredges during curfew hours
Retaining undersized scallops
Failing to complete electronic logbook

Prosecution in court
Master fined £1200 + £1000 costs + £120 victim surcharge. Owner fined £4000 + £4547 costs + £120 Victim surcharge.


04/01/2016

Retaining undersized bass below Minimum Conservation Reference Size

Written warning


10/12/2015

Using a fixed net failing to satisfy 3m headline depth

Net destroyed


02/12/2015

Using a trawl net in Camel estuary

Case discontinued


09/11/2015

Using a fixed net failing to satisfy 3m headline depth

Advisory letter


28/10/2015

Hand-gathering oysters without a licence in Fal shellfish Fishery

Written warning


12/08/2015

Using a fixed net to retain less than 70% target species

Verbal warning


12/08/2015

Using a fixed net to retain less than 70% target species

Verbal warning


11/08/2015

Using bottom towed gear in a prohibited area

£2000 FAP paid


23/07/2015

Retaining undersized scallops

£500 FAP paid


16/07/2015

Using a net in River Fowey during prohibited period

Case discontinued


11/07/2015

Carrying undersized spider crab on board
Landing undersized edible crab

Formal cautions issued


09/07/2015

Using scallop dredges during curfew hours

£1000 FAP paid


24/06/2015

Retaining undersized scallops

£500 FAP paid


18/06/2015

Fishing for bass from a boat in a bass nursery area
Using sandeel as bait from a boat in a bass nursery area

£1000 FAP paid


17/06/2015

Undersized lobster found in unmarked store pot

No further action


03/06/2015

Removing undersized oysters and mussels from Fal Shellfish Fishery

Verbal warning


03/06/2015

Removing undersized oysters and mussels from Fal Shellfish Fishery

Verbal warning


26/05/2015

Using a boat to retain crab and lobster without a permit

£250 FAP paid


22/05/2015

Retaining undersized bass, pollack and crab

Verbal warning


27/04/2015

Retaining undersized lobsters

£500 FAP paid


13/04/2015

Using a fixed net to retain less than 70% target species
Removing undersized male edible crab
Removing undersized female edible crab

£1000 FAP paid


09/04/2015

Retaining edible crab claws (exceeding 1% by weight from pots)

£500 FAP paid

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