A FISHERMAN convicted of breaching marine conservation rules has vowed to fight the court’s verdict.

Brightlingsea skipper Terry Stimpson appeared before Basildon Magistrates’ Court, facing two charges of breaching a Kent and Essex Inshore FisheriesandConservation Authority bylaw.

The bylaw restricts the engine power of boats used to fish inshore waters, with the aim of protecting sensitive marine habitats and fish stocks.

The court heard on August 19, 2013 fisheries officers boardedStimpson’sboat, Seaglory II while it was towing a trawl net inside the area covered by the authority. OnSeptember 1, 2014, officers spotted the same vessel towing something inside the area.

Stimpson, of Tudor Green, Clacton, denied the charges, claiming on both occasions, he had not actually been fishing.

He told the court he accepted his vessel’s total engine power – 245kW – was greater than the221kWlimitimposed by the bylaw.

However, he said on the first occasion, his the trawl net had not been fishing, while on the second occasion he had been towing a chain through the water to encourage fish to swim in to his drift nets.

The magistrates found him guilty on both counts, arguing on the second occasion, a chain could still be classed as a “towed fishing instrument”, and, thus, in breach of the bylaw.

The fisherman was fined £500 for each offence and ordered to pay £750 prosecution costs.

Speaking after the hearing he said: “I’m the last commercial fisherman in Brightlingsea and they are trying to put me out of business.

“I was building the boat in the yard rightnext toafishing officer and theynever told me then I was putting in the wrong engines.

“Because I have two engines, I’ve fallen foul of the bylaw.

“Brightlingsea used to be a fishing port and in the 19th century, there were about 350 fishing boats. I’m nowthe last one.”

Stimpson said he still hoped to challenge the verdict, adding: “I’m still fighting. I haven’t given up yet.”