It is correct that the dark days prior to 2003 are far removed from todays more optimistic scenario. Those that chose to become criminals instead of purchasing quota which was available have suffered the consequences. This case ought to have been disposed of long ago saving huge public expense. The earlier cases attracted huge penalties in relation to the latest judgement which was effectively a let off.

That said it is unjust that others were penalised so much more severely and that raises the question were they in the light of the "firms" narrow escape treated unjustly. There are two pssibilities should those who suffered huge penalties campaign to have their convictions revisited or should the "firm" be dragged back to court to be properly penalised in line with precedents previously set.

Fair play would tend towards the revisiting of previous cases sympathetically after which a line could be drawn under this awful phase of madness where there could never be any real winners. Hopefully salutory lessons have been learned by all concerned and a fresh start with a clean sheet is the best that can be expected.

The Anglers Trust is a new organisation yet to prove itself, it has great potential but this will never be realised if it becomes a vindictive posse of vigilantes. Lets all let bygones be bygones and work together for a better future for all, more especially our priceless marine resources.

The offences committed back in 2002/2003 were a direct result of the science being totally out of kilter with what was happening on the grounds. The fisherman were telling the scientists and the politicions, that the monk and hake stocks were much healthier than the science was predicting, due to two large year classes coming onto the grounds. Their concerns fell onto deaf ears, with a 'we no best' attitude, of course the fisherman were proved to be right and we had the sorry saga that has been played out by the back dooring of fish and the eventual court cases. Both sides have learnt painful lessons, the monk and hake stocks both had a 30% increase in the total allowable catch the following year which put an end to the quota catch inbalance. The fishing industry has played a huge roll in fisheries science in the last 5-6 years regularly taking scientists to sea and identifying potential problems before they occur.
The fishing industry has also contracted further with the quota from the vessels that have left the industry being bought by those remaining so they are now fishing well within their means. There is a good future in the industry contrary to popular belief and this has come about by the huge amount of pain that the industry has had to bare, in the massive effort that it has taken to consolidate the industtry over the last 10 years.
I agree with the points made by previos comments that the angling comunity and fishing industry must sit round the table and talk, we both have a shared interest and it's imperitive that we both fish within our means and both sides from now on always adhere to the science, with the full knowledge that we have both played our parts in providing the data that the scientists need.

Recreational sea angling is undoubtedly of huge benefit to the economy and is a healthy pastime enjoyed by huge numbers of participants who, as taxpayers and voters, do have a right to expect fish stocks to be well managed to the benefit of all.

Historically management has left much to be desired by all stakeholders due to bad science and incompetent managers implementing distrous policys that have slaughterd more fish than they were designed to save.

The science is improving, fishermen are involved and there are many less fishing boats than there formerly were. Very significantly consumers are now driving the agenda by quite rightly demanding sustainably caught fish. This leaves us at a juncture where many fish stocks are actualy showing signs of recovery and there is at long last much to be positive about.

Granted there are many hills yet to climb, the managent of the priceless bass stock is a shambles that has degenerated into a free for all quest to catch the last bass in the sea. This is largely due to politicians without knowledge or experience trying to be all things to all men but regrettably pleasing nobody in the process.

Humanity has a duty to nurture delicate marine resources not just for its own selfish sectional requirements but rather out of respect for what we have been endowed with as a species. If we steward the resource in a proper manner there should always be plenty for everone a bit like living off the interest on an investment, failure to do so projects a future too awful to envisage.

If recreational and commercial fishermen continue to snipe at each other without trying to understand each others points of view it will continue to resemble two fleas fighting over the dog they occupy.

The final point is that economically the argument for recreational fishing is a strong one however in Cornwall sustainable commercial fishing supports skilled honourable employment and does acually produce wholesome nutritious food. FOR GODS SAKE STOP BICKERING AND START WORKING TOGETHER BECAUSE THAT WOULD PRODUCE AN ALLIANCE THAT POLITICIANS WOULD FIND HARD TO IGNORE.

It was quite right that the profit from "cooking the books" was clawed back to a degree. The profits "the firm" have made over the years have been quietly salted away in a massive property empire reputedly consisting of circa 100 houses several farms and a prestigious golf club.

Where the anomaly exists is in the actual fishing offences where "the firm" appeared to get away scot free having had the funds to mount a ferocious defence. The EEC quota system has been unjust and an environmental catastrophe which should have been rectified by our useless politicians a long time ago.

Where the potential injustice now exists is with the many previous unfortunates who were given draconian penalties for often minor quota infringements. Perhaps their convictions ought now to be revisited.

While "the firm" may yaw from crocodile tears to spitting defiance they are sufficiently well found in reality to regard this episode as a financial pinprick. It did them no harm whatsoever to endure the legal process for several years, they have now experienced what so many others have endured over the years.

According to Defra the estimate of the illegal income for the Stevenson derived from breaking quota laws is in excess of £4 million - I hardly call this survival... and keeping quiet is the last thing Newlyn needs.

It should be remembered that if it wasn't for W Stevenson & Sons a lot of boat owners in Newlyn would have gone to the wall many years ago, a load of boat owners have been bailed out in troubled times. When other EU countries haven't been playing to the rules then it was necessary for the UK to bend them to survive. Unless people know the full picture I would respectively suggest they keep quiet.
Pete Eddy..ex proprietor Kermow Marine Electronics.

I totally agree with the trust, the sentence makes a mockery out of all the conservation efforts which have been put in place to preserve fish stock. The greed of a firm which had a total disregard of these rules and made documented millions in illegal profit must face a much tougher sentence. It hope an appeal will be sucessfully lodged.