The skipper of a Belgian beam trawler who refused to be escorted to Harwich by a Fisheries Protection Vessel and instead steamed for Zeebrugge, was ordered to pay more than £31,000 in fines and costs, by Folkestone Magistrates Court, UK.

Skipper and owner of the "Alles Wisselt", Danny Bout, 49, of Yerseke, Holland pleaded guilty on 30 April 3 to obstructing a British Sea Fisheries Officer and other fishery offences committed in August 2007 and January this year - including fishing with illegal strengthening bags.

In the case brought by the Marine and Fisheries Agency, the court heard that "Alles" Wisselt was first boarded by BSFOs from HMS Quorn in the southern North Sea off Margate in August 2007.

Initially officers were suspicious that the vessel had been misreporting areas of capture because the log book appeared to have been altered.

In the light of that, and other fishing infringements detected, the decision was taken to detain the vessel to Harwich for further investigation, the court heard.

But when Bout was told he was being detained to Harwich late at night, he refused to co-operate, and insisted on sailing to Zeebrugge.

After several attempts to talk the skipper around, the boarding party had no option but to seize his log book, seal his fish hold and fishing gear and disembark the vessel before Bout sailed off, magistrates were told.

Bout was later advised that if the vessel entered British Fishery Limits before this matter was resolved, it would be detained to a UK port and further action would be taken against the vessel.

Three months later when court dates were set, Bout was given permission to re-enter British Fishery Limits.

The "Alles Wisselt" was again boarded by BSFOs from HMS Quorn in the southern North Sea in January this year who found a strengthening bag on one of the cod ends which created an obvious 'blinding' effect, the court heard.

Bout pleaded guilty to obstruction and fishing with two illegal strengthening bags, retention of more than 75kgs of crab claws, failure to accurately record a quantity of crab in his logbook and displaying another vessel’s Port Letters and Numbers on one of his beams.

Defending, Andrew Oliver, said the skipper accepted his guilt and wished to apologise to the Navy and the court for disobeying orders from the BSFOs.

Danny Bout was ordered to pay a total of £31,767 in fines and costs