Breaking marine laws could cost £10,000

A FINE of up to £10,000 could be imposed for flouting legislation to protect fish stocks under plans going out to consultation.

The Scottish Government has proposed a fivefold increase to the maximum penalty for breaching marine and aquaculture regulations, from £2,000 to £10,000, and has asked stakeholders if the fine ought to be higher in some cases.

Ministers believe the current penalty may not be “a sufficient deterrent for more serious offences”, particularly for large businesses where the benefits of non-compliance “may significantly outweigh the potential penalty”.

Environment minister Stewart Stevenson launched the consultation yesterday. He said: “Scotland is home to valuable aquaculture and freshwater fisheries sectors. We need to ensure they continue to develop and co-exist harmoniously.”