Illegal Shellfish Haul: Cornish Fishermen Fined for Undersized and Berried Lobsters

Fishermen Face Hefty Fines in Truro Court

A Cornish fishing company and its relief master have been fined thousands of pounds after admitting to multiple shellfish offences, including the removal of undersized crabs and berried lobsters.

On 5th March 2025, Truro Magistrates’ Court found Rowse Fishing Limited and its relief master, Benjamin Edward Rowse, guilty of various fishing violations following two separate investigations by Cornwall Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA). The investigations, which took place in April 2024 and January 2025, led to a combined prosecution of the company and two individuals.

Rowse Fishing Limited was fined £12,000, with additional costs of £7,397 and a £2,000 surcharge. Benjamin, 28, from Penzance, was fined £1,053, with £1,000 costs and a £421 surcharge. The regular master of the vessel, Raimonds Vimba, a 52-year-old Latvian national, did not attend court and is expected to appear at a later date.

Investigations Reveal Illegal Catches

The case revolved around the fishing activities of the Emma Louise TO60, a 16.42m vivier potting vessel equipped with a seawater tank to store live shellfish. Due to the nature of the vessel, Cornwall IFCA officers could only inspect its catch when docked, allowing for thorough investigations into its operations.

During an inspection between 15th and 18th April 2024, Cornwall IFCA officers found that the vessel, under Raimonds’ command, had taken:

• 74 undersized male edible crabs
• 6 undersized female edible crabs
• 14 undersized spider crabs
• A lobster with a mutilated tail
• Failed to record catch details in the vessel’s logbook and landing declaration

In a separate inspection between 6th and 9th January 2025, while Benjamin was relief master, officers uncovered:

• The illegal fishing of berried lobsters
• The retention of a mutilated lobster
• Failure to record the correct master’s details in the logbook

Evidence of Forcible Egg Removal

When officers examined the vivier tank aboard the Emma Louise TO60 in January, they discovered six lobsters carrying eggs, known as berried lobsters. These lobsters carry their eggs under their tails until they hatch, making them crucial for maintaining healthy lobster stocks.

It was also suspected that a larger number of lobsters had been berried but had their eggs forcibly removed. Officers noticed physical damage indicative of scrubbing with a stiff brush, and tail samples taken from six lobsters tested positive for biological cement – a sign they had recently been carrying eggs.

Berried lobsters are illegal to catch in all English waters, as they play a vital role in stock sustainability. Research suggests that while a single berried lobster can carry between 7,000 and 35,000 eggs, only two out of 30,000 eggs will reach maturity.

Repeat Offender Raises Concerns

Cornwall IFCA’s Principal Enforcement Officer, Simon Cadman, highlighted that Rowse Fishing Limited and Benjamin had previously been prosecuted in 2023 for similar offences committed in 2022.

“It is deeply concerning that a successful prosecution of Rowse Fishing Ltd and Ben Rowse in 2023 involving similar offending from the same vivier potting vessel in 2022, did not dissuade them from further illegal fishing for crabs and lobsters in 2024 and 2025,” Simon said.

“Such short-sighted actions on this scale risks ruining crab and lobster fishing within the Cornwall IFCA district, putting the important livelihoods of scores of other fishermen and their fishing communities at risk. It is simply unacceptable to take and sell undersized and pregnant shellfish which clearly need to survive in the fishery to ensure sustainable stocks long-term.”

Simon added, “I am pleased that the court has recognised the seriousness of the situation and I hope the penalties it has imposed will improve the attitude of these offenders in terms of their future fishing practices in our precious Cornish waters.”

Protecting Cornwall’s Shellfish Stocks

To safeguard lobster populations, some fishermen voluntarily “v-notch” berried lobsters before returning them to the sea. This process involves clipping a small notch from one of the lobster’s tail flaps, which remains visible through several moults. Legislation makes it illegal to catch or land v-notched or mutilated lobsters, whether they are berried at the time of recapture or not.

Cornwall IFCA continues to monitor fishing activity in Cornish waters, ensuring compliance with regulations designed to protect marine life and local fishing industries. The case against Raimonds remains open, with his court appearance pending.

For more information about Cornwall IFCA and its work in sustainable fisheries management, visit their website.