Action against illegal fishing falls after cuts at enforcement agency

Data released to Greenpeace in response to FoI requests show number of prosecutions has dropped significantly in recent years

Far fewer pirate fishermen are being caught in English and Welsh waters, with prosecutions, warnings and inspections all plummeting in recent years following cuts at the enforcement agency.

The reduction in action against illegal fishing, a multimillion-pound activity, is putting marine life at risk and allowing "blackfish" to become a normal catch for some rogue operators, according to experts. Those convicted of major fishing crimes are also free to continue fishing afterwards.