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PART IVPROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO COD AND SOLE

Penalties

26.—(1) A person guilty of an offence under this Order, or under any equivalent provision shall be liable–

(a)on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £50,000; or

(b)on conviction on indictment to a fine.

(2) The court by or before which a person is convicted of an offence under article 4, 6, 8 to 12, 14, 16 and 18 to 22, or under an equivalent provision may order the forfeiture of–

(a)any fish in respect of which the offence was committed; and

(b)any net or other fishing gear used in committing the offence.

(3) Any person found guilty of an offence under articles 4, 6, 8 to 12, 14, 16 and 18 to 22 or under any equivalent provision shall, subject to the following provisions of this article, be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding the value of the fish in respect of which the offence was committed.

(4) A person shall not be liable to a fine under paragraph (3) in respect of such an offence if, under paragraph (2), the court orders the forfeiture of the fish in respect of which that offence was committed; and where a fine is imposed under paragraph (3) in respect of any offence, the court shall not have power under paragraph (2) to order the forfeiture of the fish in respect of which the offence was committed.

(5) Subject to paragraph (4), any fine to which a person is liable under paragraph (3) shall be in addition to any other penalty (whether pecuniary or otherwise) to which that person is liable in respect of that offence under this article or under any other enactment.