Landing of ‘black fish widespread’ court told

THE illegal landing of black fish was “widespread” during the biggest scandal in the history of Scotland’s fishing industry, a court heard yesterday.

A judge was also told that one of the reasons for the £40 million deception had been to try to help a processing plant in Shetland which was reeling from overseas competition.

The claims were made as the sentencing of 17 skippers began at the High Court in Edinburgh. The hearing is due to last several days and Lord Turnbull will announce the sentences next month.

Murdo Macleod, QC, for one of the men, David Hutchison, 66, said: “He knew the misdeclaration of fish was an industry-wide practice but that it was, nonetheless, illegal. My understanding is that the vast majority of boats involved in pelagic fishing, 22 or 23 in this country, have been prosecuted or are in the process of being prosecuted.”

The scam came to light in 2005 in a major investigation by police and the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency (SFPA), now Marine Scotland, centred on Shetland Catch Ltd.

The company is the largest pelagic fish-processing operator in Scotland, able to handle up to 1,000 tonnes of fish a day at its factory at Gremista, Lerwick.

SFPA had suspected there was illegal landing of mackerel and herring, and a raid was carried out at Shetland Catch.