Trawlermen face quota scam cash recovery bid

SEVENTEEN Shetland trawlermen who admitted their involvement in a £37 million "black fish" scam to cheat European Union fishing quotas are fighting a bid by prosecutors to seize money from them.

The men have already admitted making false declarations to the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency and landing in excess of their agreed quota of mackerel and herring.

Processing company Shetland Catch in Lerwick, where they landed their fish, has also pleaded guilty to helping the men make the undeclared landings.

Now the Crown wants to seize assets from both the company and the trawlermen claiming that they benefited from the false declarations.

No figure has been produced by the Crown for the amount they say is owed, but it is thought to be millions of pounds in total.

During a hearing in the High Court in Glasgow before judge Lord Turnbull, advocate depute Barry Divers said of the scam: "This was a premeditated, sophisticated attempt to get round the EU fishing regulations and its aim was to make money."

Defence counsel have argued the fishermen and the company have already been penalised as the boats' quotas were reduced after the scam came to light.

All accused face an unlimited fine, but this cannot be imposed until after the matter of confiscation is dealt with.