Yesterday on 29 January 2025, at North Tyneside Magistrates Court, Marcos Gonzales-Rivera, Spanish national and Master of the British-registered fishing vessel Brisan FD9, pleaded guilty to using anchored nets in a prohibited area of the Canyons Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ).
The vessel entered the Canyons MCZ on three occasions during January 2024 using set gill nets, with vessel monitoring system (VMS) data providing evidence of patterns consistent with the setting and hauling of nets. This type of gear is prohibited under The Canyons Marine Conservation Zone (Specified Area) Prohibited Fishing Gears Byelaw 2022, which was introduced by MMO to protect the marine environment from damaging fishing activity.
The 53-year-old Spanish national was sentenced to a 12-month conditional discharge. He was also ordered to pay legal costs and a victim surcharge, totalling £1,688.
The court’s decision considered an early guilty plea, the defendant’s previous good character, immediate remedial action upon being informed of the MCZ, and the fact that no reoffending had taken place in the two years since the offences occurred.
The Canyons MCZ is home to protected MPA features such as deep-sea bed habitats, cold-water corals and sea-pen and burrowing megafauna communities.
Sean Douglas, Head of Regulatory Assurance at MMO, said
This successful prosecution demonstrates MMO’s continued commitment to evidence led enforcement of MPA byelaws. We are pleased the court reached a proportionate outcome. Our MPA byelaws exist to protect and support the recovery of vulnerable habitats and species habitats. We will continue to hold those who breach them to account.
This case follows the MMO’s first successful MPA byelaw prosecution in May 2025, which resulted in over £40,000 in fines, victim surcharge and costs for illegal bottom towed fishing activity within the Offshore Brighton Marine Conservation Zone.
Find out more about MMO’s role in MPA management www.gov.uk/marine-protected-areas