A skipper who was a member of the Scallop Management Board has been fined for breaching the king scallop curfew.

Environment, Food and Agriculture Minister Geoffrey Boot said the prosecution for breaching fishing regulations demonstrates the island’s determination to ensure stocks are safeguarded.

Melvyn Reid was caught fishing for king scallops south west of Douglas on his vessel Our Sarah Jane at just before 5.40am on November 8 last year.

Measures to ensure king scallops stocks are sustained mean fishing can’t start until 6am.

Mr Reid’s vessel was detained to port and, when interviewed, he confirmed to fisheries officers that he had been fishing for scallops.

Mr Reid, of Queen’s Valley, Ramsey, appeared before magistrates on Thursday and admitted breaching fishing regulations.

The court fined him £5,000 and instructed him to pay £210.78 in costs.

In sentencing, the court acknowledged that Mr Reid had admitted the offence and submitted an early guilty plea and that throughout the investigation he had been co-operative.

Minister Boot said: ’A curfew, restricting fishing time, is one of a number of measures in place to ensure the long-term sustainability of king scallops

’We will continue to police our seas and prosecute those who disregard the law.’

At the time of the offence Mr Reid was a member of the Scallop Management Board, which advises the government on measures to protect the fishery. But he has now resigned his position.