SSFC case against Pat Carlin and Lyle Stantiford

At Bournemouth Magistrates Courts, District Judge, Roger House dismissed the SSFC case against Pat Carlin and Lyle Stantiford where they were accused of breaking the byelaw of using an over 12m vessel within 6 miles of the shore baselines.

The Judge said in his summing up “The balance of probability is that the Byelaw was never intended to include RSA’s and that it was irrational, unreasonable and not appropriate to be used in this situation.” The Judge also said that the SSFC had failed to consider Passenger Angling Charter Vessels in the drafting of the Bylaw.

This is a massive result for Recreational Sea Anglers throughout the country and it seems at last that someone is taking notice. Anyone who thinks that an angler fishing on an under or over 12m vessel within 6 miles is a threat to conservation compared to trawlers and scallopers is a dreamer!

This case should have never gone to court and the SSFC driven by Mr Ian Carrier has wasted £43,800 of taxpayers money trying to get a judgement against Pat and Lyle and that's just the SSFC's costs!