Identified Infringements
Illegal fishing contributes to the overfishing of valuable fish stocks, many of which are at dangerously depleted levels. Very limited data on convictions for serious infringements (illegal fishing) has been compiled from France, Spain and the UK. Unlike data on fisheries subsidies, it is not official data obtained directly from governments but information collected manually from government websites, press reports and court records. It is therefore certain to be incomplete.
Read more about subsidies and illegal fishing in the fishsubsidy.org report When Crime Pays.
The table below shows vessels that have received fisheries subsidies and have been convicted of serious infringements.
| Vessel Name / Registration number | Date(s) of offences | Description | FIFG subsidies 1994-2006 | Infringed rules before subsidy? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GALAECIA (ESP000025378) | 16/10/2005 | Transshipment from a boat that is on CCAMLR list of boats that practice IUU fishing
Sanction: not known Skipper/Owner: Vidal Armadores S.A. |
€1,511,808.00 | No |
| GALAECIA (ESP000025378) | Manipulating satellite control device, obstruction of inspection
Sanction: 120 000 euro, suspension of fishing authorization for 6 months Skipper/Owner: Vidal Armadores S.A. |
€1,511,808.00 | No | |
| HODEIERTZA (ESP000024963) | 12/04/2005 | Illegal fishing in French waters, use of illegal fishing gears
Sanction: 60 000 euro deposit, fine unkown Skipper/Owner: Not known |
€1,269,706.25 | Yes |
| MONTE MEIXUEIRO (ESP000026288) | 18/11/2005 | Illegal fishing and illegal discard practice in Norwegian waters
Sanction: not known Skipper/Owner: Valiela S.A. |
€1,228,992.00 | No |
| MINCHOS NOVENO (ESP000025255) | 04/11/2003 | Illegal mesh size, unreporting
Sanction: Confiscation of vessels, fishing gears and catch Skipper/Owner: Not known |
€1,146,430.59 | No |
| MINCHOS SEPTIMO (ESP000025049) | 04/09/2010 | Misreporting of catches in the logbook
Skipper/Owner: Jesús Rodríguez Lage |
€956,330.46 | No |
| MINCHOS SEPTIMO (ESP000025049) | 04/11/2003 | Illegal mesh size, unreporting
Sanction: Confiscation of vessels, fishing gears and catch Skipper/Owner: Not known |
€956,330.46 | No |
| VISPON (ESP000026023) | 26/07/2007 | Misreporting of catches
Sanction: deposit Skipper/Owner: Not known |
€932,779.84 | No |
| SIEMPRE MAITE (ESP000024249) | 26/09/2006 | Illegal trawlnet size, illegal gear
Sanction: Confiscation of catch, 10 000 euro deposit Skipper/Owner: Not known |
€846,784.67 | ? |
| BERRIZ AVE MARIA (ESP000025310) | 08/04/2010 | Illegal fishing - Two tons of Sardines onboard (forbidden in the 12 miles between March 1st and june 31st)
Sanction: 3000 € |
€788,200.00 | No |
| VIDAR (BEL024622000) | 16/11/2010 | Illegal mesh size
Sanction: Not know at time of article |
€770,174.72 | No |
| GURE REINARE (ESP000024667) | 12/04/2005 | Illegal fishing in French waters, use of illegal fishing gears
Sanction: 40 000 euro deposit, fine unkown Skipper/Owner: Not known |
€768,503.12 | No |
| LAMEIRO UNO (ESP000024301) | 28/03/2010 | False declaration on refrigerating system
Sanction: 30,000 € expected. Not clear yet at time of article, but the other vessel (Loremar) was fined € 30,000 with similar infringements Skipper/Owner: Hermanos Lameiro S.L. |
€739,845.85 | No |
| LOREMAR (ESP000024114) | 28/03/2010 | False declaration on refrigerating system
Sanction: 30000 € Skipper/Owner: Pesquera Agasan |
€725,884.23 | No |
| PLAYA DE ARBEYAL (ESP000023930) | 28/11/2004 | Unreporting, misreporting, illegal mesh size
Sanction: 30 000 euro Skipper/Owner: Juan Carlos Calvo Rey |
€631,975.49 | No |
| PLAYA DE ARBEYAL (ESP000023930) | December 2003 | Possession of 2,5 tonnes of cocaine on board
Sanction: not known Skipper/Owner: Juan Carlos Calvo Rey |
€631,975.49 | No |
| PLAYA DE ARBEYAL (ESP000023930) | April 2002 | Fishing over quota
Sanction: not known Skipper/Owner: Juan Carlos Calvo Rey |
€631,975.49 | No |
| SIBARI II (ITA000017977) | 28-Jul-05 29-May-06 20-Jun-06 |
Use of illegal fishing gear | €545,200.00 | Yes |
| LUIS BARRANKO (ESP000023529) | 08/04/2010 | Illegal fishing - One ton of Sardines onboard (forbidden in the 12 miles between March 1st and june 31st)
Sanction: 2000 € |
€541,761.63 | No |
| CIUDAD DE CARTAGENA (ESP000023498) | 18/11/2008 | Illegal fishing in Maltese EEZ
Sanction: unknown Skipper/Owner: Antonio Hern‡ndez |
€540,592.91 | No |
| CATEAR (GBR000A14932) | 08/02/2005 | 3 unspecified offenses, fishing gear not compliant with EU laws
Sanction: 36 000 euro deposit, confiscation of trawlnet Skipper/Owner: Not known |
€496,221.82 | Yes |
| PUNTA DE SAN MARTIN (ESP000003904) | 29/06/2001 | Use of illegal gear
Sanction: 100 000 francs deposit Skipper/Owner: Not known |
€482,356.00 | Yes |
| NUEVO MADRE ROSAURA (ESP000023435) | 15/12/2009 | Misreporting of catches in the logbook (8 tons of fish ofwhich 6,5 tons cod were not declared)
Sanction: 35000 € |
€428,775.76 | No |
| VINCENZO PRIMO (ITA000009512) | 09/06/2011 | Use of illegal fishing gear | €409,340.00 | No |
| WODAN (BEL030481983) | March 2007 | Illegal trawl mesh size
Sanction: Confiscation of catch (10 met tons) and gear Skipper/Owner: Not known |
€346,062.96 | No |
| LANPIMAR (ESP000022976) | 22/11/2001 | Illegal fishing within French territorial waters
Sanction: Confiscation of catch and gear, fine unkown Skipper/Owner: Not known |
€323,789.90 | No |
| OP HOOP VAN ZEGEN (BEL030981991) | 06/07/2001 | Illegal fishing in French territorial waters
Sanction: 30 000 euro fine Skipper/Owner: Not known |
€287,464.28 | Yes |
| AROSA QUINCE (ESP000015527) | 13/07/2006 | Illegal fishing and misreporting of catches in the logbook
Sanction: 1.9 million euro fine Skipper/Owner: Transpesca |
€282,872.77 | No |
| AROSA DOCE (ESP000015541) | 13/07/2006 | Illegal fishing and misreporting of catches in the logbook
Sanction: 4.6 million euro for infringements involving three vessels from the same owner) Skipper/Owner: Transpesca |
€269,628.70 | No |
| AROSA NUEVE (ESP000015540) | 13/07/2006 | Illegal fishing and misreporting of catches in the logbook
Sanction: 4.6 million euro for infringements involving three vessels from the same owner Skipper/Owner: Transpesca |
€250,115.42 | No |
| LANFON (ESP000007960) | 09/11/2006 | Use of illegal fishing gear, attempt to escape control
Sanction: not known Skipper/Owner: Not known |
€220,227.00 | No |
| ACQUA MARINA II^ (ITA000026916) | 19/04/2007 | Use of illegal fishing gear | €205,014.00 | No |
| ALBA DO MAR (ESP000015939) | 27/03/2002 | Use of illegal fishing gear
Sanction: 10 000 euro deposit Skipper/Owner: Not known |
€192,984.15 | Yes |
| MARIE ALEXANDRA (FRA000730712) | 23/07/2010 | Illegal mesh size (infraction à l'épaisseur du fil du cul de chalut et à cause d'un maillage non contorme pour le tablier du dessus du chalut)
Sanction: 24000 € |
€139,878.98 | ? |
| ZEPHYR (GBR000A12651) | 200 trips between 2002-2005 | Unreporting of catches in the logbook
Sanction: severe fines expected in November 2010 Skipper/Owner: John Arthur Irvine, Allister Irvine |
€126,076.62 | No |
| ECLISSE (ITA000027136) | 27/06/2008 | Use of illegal fishing gear | €112,050.79 | No |
| ROSS LUCY (ITA000003360) | 19/08/2009 | Use of illegal fishing gear, illegal fishing | €106,308.47 | No |
| AUSONIA (ITA000003420) | Jul-Aug-09 | Use of illegal fishing gear | €102,623.03 | No |
| CIBELES (ESP000010499) | 03/07/2001 | Misreporting on logbook
Sanction: 762 euro deposit Skipper/Owner: Not known |
€102,571.92 | No |
| SERENE (GBR000A13147) | 200 trips between 2002-2005 | Unreporting of catches in the logbook
Sanction: severe fines expected in November 2010 Skipper/Owner: Thomas Sutherland Eunson, Allen Magnus Anderson |
€94,611.85 | No |
| VERENA (ITA000026157) | 30/07/2006 | Use of illegal fishing gear | €87,361.00 | No |
| SIEMPRE AUSTERA (ESP000021872) | 27/03/2001 | Misreporting on logbook
Sanction: deposit Skipper/Owner: Not known |
€86,201.41 | ? |
| CARLO LUIGI (ITA000002965) | 18-Jul-05 11-Jul-06 |
Use of illegal fishing gear | €80,785.63 | No |
| STELLA DEL MARE (ITA000026905) | 17-Jul-07 19-Jul-07 |
Use of illegal fishing gear | €80,000.00 | No |
| FELICE (ITA000009498) | 16-Jun-04 28-May-08 9-Aug-08 |
Use of illegal fishing gear | €68,172.31 | No |
| ORAZIO II (ITA000012596) | 29-Jul-05 16-Jun-06 29-Aug-08 |
Use of illegal fishing gear | €66,372.00 | Yes |
| MARIA GRAZIA GENOVESE (ITA000003421) | 17-May-06 29-Jun-06 |
Use of illegal fishing gear | €62,610.01 | No |
| TURCHESE (ITA000017454) | 06/07/2007 | Use of illegal fishing gear | €57,740.59 | No |
| MARIE-CATHERINE (FRA000683111) | 28/09/2001 | Misreporting on logbook, use of prohibited fishing gear
Sanction: 110 000 francs fine and legals costs, 50 000 technical costs Skipper/Owner: David Leroy |
€54,325.11 | Yes |
| CHARISMA (GBR000A10262) | 200 trips between 2002-2005 | Unreporting of catches in the logbook
Sanction: severe fine expected in November 2010 Skipper/Owner: Robert John Polson, David Kay |
€49,296.62 | No |
| ADMIRAL GORDON (GBR000B10214) | 4 counts of keeping inaccurate logbook; retaining Megrim in ICES zone VIII: breach of fishing license
Sanction: £13,788.13 fine Skipper/Owner: IF Ltd |
€48,809.93 | No | |
| BEN LOYAL (GBR000A13786) | 11 counts of submitting false landing declarations
Sanction: £23,750 fine Skipper/Owner: Donald Turtle, Joan Turtle |
€48,000.30 | No | |
| BEN LOYAL (GBR000A13786) | 11 counts of submitting false landing declarations
Sanction: £23,750 fine Skipper/Owner: Donald Turtle, Joan Turtle |
€48,000.30 | No | |
| DAVIDE (ITA000009560) | 18-Apr-05 30-Jul-08 30-Sep-08 |
Use of illegal fishing gear | €47,425.07 | Yes |
| GIUSEPPA MADRE (ITA000018625) | 17-Jun-04 21-Jun-06 |
Use of illegal fishing gear | €46,640.00 | Yes |
| BILLY ROWNEY (GBR000A21833) | 13/03/2007 | Illegal mesh size, misreporting on logbook
Sanction: 25 495 euro fine (confiscation of fish), 20 000 euro deposit, 5 800 euro fine, 2 000 euro punitive damages Skipper/Owner: Not known |
€46,620.01 | No |
| SAN DIEGO (ITA000003342) | 4-Aug-05 26-Mar-06 19-Apr-07 |
Use of illegal fishing gear | €46,357.17 | No |
| DUCA DEGLI ABRUZZI (ITA000003355) | 12-Apr-07 20-Apr-07 12-May-09 11-May-10 |
Use of illegal fishing gear | €44,915.73 | No |
| PORS PIRON (FRA000184928) | July 2004 | Fishing after quota has been exhausted, Default in staff qualification
Sanction: 7 000 euro fine for skipper, 3 000 fine for mecanical, 10 000 fine for punitive damages Skipper/Owner: Not known |
€39,551.02 | No |
| VIRGINIA II (ITA000002740) | 26/05/2005 | Use of illegal fishing gear | €33,860.00 | No |
| GABBIANO (ITA000018178) | 26/05/2009 | Use of illegal fishing gear | €33,351.13 | No |
| FRANCHINA (ITA000003860) | 21-Jul-05 5-Jul-06 31-May-07 8-May-07 |
Use of illegal fishing gear | €30,720.00 | Yes |
| JOLLY (ITA000023534) | 25/07/2006 | Use of illegal fishing gear | €30,422.79 | No |
| SHANNON (BEL031861991) | 11/11/2002 | Illegal catches of Anglerfish and scallop
Sanction: Confiscation of catch, 20 000 euro deposit, 38 000 euro fine for the skipper Skipper/Owner: Not known |
€29,944.42 | Yes |
| BURRASCA (ITA000003918) | 8-Jun-06 10-Jun-08 26-May-10 |
Use of illegal fishing gear | €29,433.43 | No |
| PEGASO (ITA000019369) | 28/06/2006 | Use of illegal fishing gear | €27,924.40 | No |
| CKS (GBR000A21771) | 6 counts of submitting false landing declarations
Sanction: £13,400 fine Skipper/Owner: Not known |
€26,598.41 | No | |
| CKS (GBR000A21771) | Fishing beyond quota, misdeclaration of catch
Sanction: Part of £41 000 fine for the company which had several vessels and companies involved in the case. Skipper/Owner: Drew Davies |
€26,598.41 | No | |
| BREIZH ARVOR 2 (FRA000767148) | 9/10-Oct-10 | Illegal mesh size
Sanction: 2000 £ |
€21,952.65 | No |
| STELLA POLARE (ITA000008786) | 17-Jun-04 28-Jun-05 14-Jul-05 29-Jul-05 |
Use of illegal fishing gear | €20,238.79 | Yes |
| NUOVO GESU' NAZARENO (ITA000009088) | 28/06/2006 | Use of illegal fishing gear | €19,744.36 | No |
| NUOVO DIO CON NOI (ITA000023179) | 28/06/2006 | Use of illegal fishing gear | €19,116.00 | No |
| AZZURRA (ITA000003468) | 26/06/2008 | Use of illegal fishing gear | €12,875.70 | No |
| GIRL PATRICIA (GBR000A21576) | Fishing beyond quota, misdeclaration of catch
Sanction: part of £41 000 fine for the company which had several vessels and companies involved in the case. Skipper/Owner: Arthur and Leonard Williams |
€12,053.89 | No | |
| GIRL PATRICIA (GBR000A21576) | 9 counts of submitting false landing declarations
Sanction: £32000 Skipper/Owner: Arthur and Leonard Williams |
€12,053.89 | No | |
| MONTE ARBALLU (ESP000007487) | 17/06/2005 | Fishing in Portuguese waters without license
Sanction: not known Skipper/Owner: Not known |
€6,870.89 | No |
| S. CROCE II (ITA000001787) | 23/06/2005 | Use of illegal fishing gear | €4,553.60 | Yes |
| IZAR ALDE (ESP000000125) | 23/06/2005 | Fishing in Portuguese waters without license
Sanction: 1 300 euro fine Skipper/Owner: Jesus Manuel Tejido Breijo |
€4,358.05 | No |
| ADMIRAL BLAKE (GBR000B10536) | 2 counts keeping inaccurate logbook; 3 counts of fishing in closed area; non-designated port: breach of fishing license
Sanction: £40,224.72 fine Skipper/Owner: IF Ltd |
€2,927.07 | No | |
| ZERUKO ERREGIÑA (ESP000007802) | 07/07/2009 | Fishing in prohibited area
Sanction: Confiscation of catch, 700 euro fine Skipper/Owner: Not known |
€2,596.89 | No |
| DANIELLE (GBR000B14531) | 15/08/2002 | Fishing in French territorial waters without authorization, attempt to escape the control
Sanction: Confiscation of fish (5 350 euro), 16 800 deposit, 5 000 euro fine, 5 000 punitive damages Skipper/Owner: Peter Mc Leod |
€1,343.81 | Yes |