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Illegal scallop fishing lands skippers hefty fines

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Accord M90: The vessel upon which the crimes were committed

Accord M90: The vessel upon which the crimes were committed

THREE fisherman appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Mar 21) to face multiple charges, relating to fisheries offences committed in March and April 2014, and November 2013.
42-year-old Lee Wonnacott of Richard John Road in Milford Haven, and Mark Alberry of Gloucester Terrace in Haverfordwest, both pleaded guilty to dredging fishing contrary to restrictions, and contravening an order relating to the regulation of nets and other fishing gear.
​​Also in the dock was​ Timothy Bowman-Davies​ the owner of​ ​TBD Fishing Limited, who pleaded guilty to six offences of the same nature.

Prosecuting the case on behalf of the Welsh Government was James Subbiani, who told the court that the charges related to breaches of scallop fishing and prohibition fishing methods.
He said that the fishing vessel that Wonnacott and Alberry were sailing upon, Accord M90, was owned by a local company, TBD Fishing Ltd.
He said: “Between November 22 and 25, 2013, they left Fishguard Port and travelled to Cardigan Bay. They were undertaking fishing activities – a significant part of which was conducted in closed areas under the 2010 order of the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967.
“They took a number of tows, then moved to North Lleyn. Here, a number of horse muscles are protected, and all fishing is prohibited: That area was targeted.”
On that occassion, the Accord M90 was skippered by Alberry. Mr Subbiani said that it “seems” to be that he deliberately targeted the prohibited area, due to the greater yield.
My Subbiani explained that analysis has shown that the areas that are closed to fishing have recovered significantly, and provided research to show that the scallops harvested, which were landed at Bangor, Gave a profit of over £3,000.
He said: “The offences came to light when fisheries officers analysed that tracking data. This is done under two systems called VMS Plus and Sucker Fish. The analysis identified this trip.”
The court heard how Alberry declined requests for interview, and difficulties arose relating to the identification of the skipper at the time of the offence.
Mr Subbiani took that moment to thank TBD Fishing Ltd for their compliance, and providing evidence relating to the identification to the skipper so that the prosecution could go ahead. However, due to the company being liable for the action of the skippers, this action landed the company in court in addition tot he skippers in doing so.
Mr Subbiani went on to say that on March 26 and April 4, Wonnacott was the skipper. A research vessel was undertaking work to ascertain information regarding the amount of scallops in Cardigan Bay, and that the outcome was that they found there had been a significant yield.
He said: “On April 4, 2014, support officers saw the vessel actively engaged in fishing activities in an enclosed area, and the Accord M90 was photographed.
“Wonnacott said he fell asleep and the vessel wandered into the enclosed area.”
He continued: “The Welsh Government Fisheries Office undertook further analysis, and found another trip on March 26.
“Cardigan Bay is a place of conservation, and has the highest levels of protection for sea beds, reefs, dolphins and whales. On too many occasions, I come to court as vessels have strayed.”
Mr Subbiani told the magistrates: “I have prosecuted Wonnacott before after he had been fishign in Cardigan Bay. He pleaded guilty to two offenced and was fined £7,000 – it seems he has not learnt his lesson.”
​T​he court also heard how TBD Fishing Ltd have taken steps to ensure that this will not happen again, but no longer engaging in scallop fishing, and not allowing anybody other than the owner, Timothy Bowman-Davies or his son be the Master of a vessel.
Defence solicitor, Mark Layton said: “Timothy Bowman-Davies is the owner of the company, and through this dredging gained just under £10,000. However, the accounts ending May 31, 2014 and May 31, 2015 show a loss.
“There was a slight profit in 2013, but in 2014 suffered a huge loss in excess of £50,000. This attributes to the business venture relating to scallop fishing.
“TBD Fishing Ltd have never appeared before court in the past, and although Bowman-Davies is in the dock, he also appears as a prosecution wistness, in effect, against himself..”
Mr Layton told the court how Bowman-Davies had explained who was on board and how much was made, and he instructed the to go to Milford Haven’s Fisheries Office to make sure they understood the legalities of dredging for shellfish.
Mr Layton said: “He believed they would know where to go, and said that they were experienced fisherman and does not condone illegal fishing. Now, only he and his son are in control of the boats, and they no longer fish for scallops.
“It’s like someone having a company car and going for a frolic – he had no control over the skippers or what they were doing as he was not there.”
After considering the evidence, magistrates fined TBD Fishing Ltd a total of £2,000, and ordered that the company pays £100 victim surcharge and £763.50 costs to the Crown Proscution Service.
Both Lee Wonnacott and Mark Alberry must pay a fine of £1,000 each, and each pay a victim surcharge of £100 and costs to the Crown Prosecution Service of £763.50.

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Police ask motorists to avoid A44 trunk road due to heavy snowfall

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DYFED-POWYS POLICE have issued an appeal to motorists to avoid a 25 mile section of the A44 trunk road between Aberystwyth and Llangurig due to it being impassable due to heavy snowfall.

In a warning issued at 4am on their social media accounts the police said: “Please avoid the area and find alternative routes for your journey.”

Meanwhile, last night The Nags Head in Lampeter uploaded pictures of the snowy scenes in the area, and were encouraging customers to come in and sit next to their ‘nice warm fire’.

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Egg and farm shop to open at award-winning west Wales farm

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A SCHEME for a self-serve egg and farm shop at an award-winning 32,000-chicken Ceredigion farm, to allow it to receive a UK Shared Prosperity fund grant, has been approved by county planners.

Ben Edkins, of Edkins Eggs, Coed Farm, Cilcennin sought permission to site a self-serve farm shop on an existing yard area at the site.

A supporting letter submitted through agent Morgan & Flynn Architectural Services described it as “a more advanced version of an egg stand, with honesty box, which has been a staple for people producing eggs for centuries”.

It added: “This method of selling eggs has already proven to be a hit with communities in Ceredigion, given the success of the already established egg dispenser located in Aberystwyth town centre.”

Family-owned Edkins Eggs, which supplies multiple businesses across the area with eggs, including Aberaeron’s Y Seler, Hive, Harbourmaster, and Costcutters, has been awarded a grant to cover the cost of part of the proposal, on the condition that planning approval is granted, the statement added.

“The grant, which is a UK shared prosperity fund for the Mid Wales region as part of the ‘Cynnal Y Cardi Fund’ provided by Ceredigion County Council was granted in December 2023.

“For this grant to be claimed, it is required that planning permission is granted, the construction is completed and also the egg dispensers are implemented by December 2024. This gives the applicants a 12-month window from the point of the grant awarded to completion of proposal.”
The building itself will include a solar panel array providing the power for the egg dispensing unit and lighting, and it is hoped to create one extra job at 227-acre Coed Farm, home to 32,000 chickens producing free range eggs, 90 beef cattle and 200 sheep.

A green infrastructure statement by the agent added: “The creation of this building to house the self-serve farm shop to enhance the established family-owned business ‘Edkins Eggs’, which also has provisions to allow for other local companies producing items such as vegetables and honey to sell their products, will provide a facility for the local community to purchase locally produced goods directly from the supplier.

“This will not only provide an enhanced shopping experience in terms of being able to purchase directly from the farm, which could act as an educational benefit especially for children, but also provide the additional facility of a small-scale shop to the local area, whereas currently the community would either have to travel to the service centres of either Aberaeron or Felinfach.”

The application was conditionally approved under delegated powers.

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John Singer Sargent’s ‘Fashion & Swagger’ to light up the Torch

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IN an unparalleled celebration of one of the late 19th century’s most revered portrait artists, the Torch Theatre is set to host “John Singer Sargent – Fashion & Swagger” on Tuesday, 16 April, at 7:30 pm. This innovative exhibition, brought to life by Exhibition on Screen, delves into the remarkable artistry of John Singer Sargent, whose portraits are celebrated for their intricate depiction of his subjects’ persona, attire, and the subtleties of their presentation.

The event promises an insightful exploration of Sargent’s influence on modern art, culture, and fashion, featuring interviews with a diverse group of curators, contemporary fashion icons, and style influencers. Filmed at prestigious venues like the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and Tate Britain in London, the exhibition unveils Sargent’s extraordinary ability to capture the essence of his subjects’ identities, social standings, and the complexities of gender through his art during a pivotal time of cultural transformation.

Phil Grabsky, one of the producers behind this compelling film, shared his enthusiasm for spotlighting Sargent’s genius, stating, “As filmmakers, both director David Bickerstaff and I have been thrilled to make this film about Sargent, someone I consider a truly astounding artist.” Grabsky further reflected on the curious case of Sargent’s fading recognition despite his once-celebrated status and affirmed Exhibition on Screen’s commitment to revitalizing interest in artists who deserve renewed attention.

The exhibition promises a fascinating juxtaposition of over 50 of Sargent’s paintings with authentic items of clothing and accessories donned by his subjects, offering audiences a unique passage into the artist’s creative realm. It underscores how Sargent’s subjects, often hailing from affluent backgrounds, entrusted him with their public images — a theme that resonates with the ongoing dialogue around the construction of identity in the public eye.

Tickets for “John Singer Sargent – Fashion & Swagger” are available for £13. Those interested can secure their spots by visiting www.torchtheatre.co.uk or contacting the Box Office at 01646 695267.

For further details and imagery, or to arrange press inquiries, please reach out to Anwen Francis (Marketing, Press & Communications) via email at [email protected] or phone at 07854 772640.

ENDS

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