THREE north Essex fishermen have admitted catching about £10,000 worth of extra fish after a four-year investigation, which cost the public an estimated £500,000.

Terry Stimpson, James Craig and Daniel Swallow admitted exceeding their European Union quotas at Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday.

They were fined a combined total of £8,150 and ordered to pay £5,000 costs.

In 2011 the fishermen caught and sold more fish than they were allowed under highly controversial EU legislation and the common fisheries policy.

The three, who all use boats under ten metres long, were used as test subjects by a British fishing industry protesting about quotas, which it is claimed are killing the industry.

But opponents claim commercial fishing, in Brightlingsea and Mersea in these types of boats will die off in the next few years due to the quota system.

Judge David Turner QC said: “Asamember of the EU the UK is subject to the rules of the common fisheries policy.

“Fishing quotas apply.

“Overfishing puts livelihoods at risk.

“I recognise there is a heated political debate about the merits of the policy and I don’t doubt at times it causes hardship.

“MPs Douglas Carswell, Bernard Jenkin and Sir David Amess have all written to me about the concerns members of the Commons feel, but these are not matters for me fortunately.”

He described the time taken as “excessively protracted” and the cost to the public as “out of all proportion” at “roughly £500,000” after a lengthy investigation and several court proceedings dating back to 2012.

External legal costs for the Marine Management Organisation alone total more than £120,000.

But while admitting some sympathy for the defendants he said they knowingly and deliberately broke the law.

He said: “The quotas seem harsh, but these are commercial activities and they have been done consciously.

“What you did has a direct effect on other fishermen whether you like it or not.”

Fines and costs were limited because of their personal finances in an industry Judge Turner accepts is struggling.

Clacton MP Douglas Carswell said: “It’s disgusting. We need a British fishing policy that works for British fishermen.

“The shocking truth is there are actually lots of fish in the sea now and these rules are not only preventing fishermen earning an honest livelihood, but they end up in court.”

Case highlights industry's problems

TERRY Stimpson, 54, has spent a lifetime at sea.

The father-of-four, of Tudor Green, Jaywick, admitted three counts of exceeding his quota, twice for cod and once for skate and ray, in 2011 while onboard his boat Sea Glory 2.

Despite a 1,000kilogram limit for cod he landed more than 3,000kg in the February and again in March.

In total the overfishing earned him £6,653.

Stimpson is already £150,000 in debt.

The court heard he has struggled during the past 15 years due to a combination of bad luck and family difficulties.

He was given two years to pay the fine.

Speaking after the hearing, Mr Stimpson said: “We are just glad it’s all over. It’s been an absolute nightmare.

“It wasn’t intentional. When you put your nets in the water you can’t predict what you are going to catch.

“You shouldn’t be throwing perfectly good fish away that should go for consumption.

They are already dead – there is no conservation in that.”

James Craig, 22, of Woodstock, West Mersea, admitted one count of overfishing.

In April 2011 he sold 469kg of skate and ray, but only had permission to sell 200kg after catching the skate on his boat Hotshot CK3.

This earned him an extra £458.

He was fined £500 and ordered to pay £2,000. He was given one year to pay it.

Andrew Craig, 54, his dad, said his son had been fishing for bass when his nets were filled with skate, causing £500 worth of damage.

He added: “That is just one day and he went over quota for the month and he wasn’t even fishing for skate.”

Daniel Swallow, 28, of Seaview Avenue, West Mersea, admitted seven counts of exceeding his quota.

Mr Swallow owns Liberty operating out of West Mersea.

Between February and October 2011 he overfished skate and ray by about 2,000kilograms worth an extra £3,713.59.

The court heard he claims the industry in West Mersea only has about three years left and the quotas are destroying any chance of a future.

He was fined £3,150 in total and ordered to pay £1,500 costs in the next two years.