Administrative Penalties
A system of administrative penalties for the fishing industry came into effect on 1st April 2008. The aim of the scheme is to decriminalise minor fisheries offences and reduce pressures on the court system for those minor offences. The administrative penalty system does not replace the existing criminal sytem but will work in tandem with it. If anyone is unhappy at being given an administrative penalty they will have the option to refuse it and have the case referred to the COPFS (Procurator Fiscal) for consideration of criminal proceedings.
See the guidance document for full details of the system.