Man was found with half a tonne of clams

A MAN has been ordered to pay £365 after being found with half a tonne of clams.
By The Newsroom
Published 29th Jan 2016, 06:01 BST
Half a tonne of clams seized from Christopher Skinner by Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority officers at the Camber in Old PortsmouthHalf a tonne of clams seized from Christopher Skinner by Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority officers at the Camber in Old Portsmouth
Half a tonne of clams seized from Christopher Skinner by Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority officers at the Camber in Old Portsmouth

Christopher Skinner was stopped by Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority officers after they saw him arrive at Viviers at the Camber, in Old Portsmouth.

The 25-year-old unloaded the clams, pictured, on August 16 last year, and drove off when officers approached him. He later returned and threatened to drive a van through an IFCA vehicle.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

When officers interviewed him he denied any knowledge of the clams – of which 95 per cent were under the minimum allowed size of 35mm.

Officers believed they had been removed from Poole Harbour, a marine protected area.

At Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court Skinner, of Hamworthy, Poole was found guilty of transporting under-sized manila clams contrary to minimum size regulations, failing to comply with a reasonable direction and obstructing fisheries officers. He was given a two-year conditional discharge.