Magne Dyb, captain of the Norwegian long-line ship Ny Argo caught fishing illegally in Skeiðarárdýpi off south Iceland on Monday, has submitted collateral for the expected fine to continue fishing. He said he didn’t know fishing was prohibited in the area.

Fishing in Iceland. Photo by Bjarni Brynjólfsson.

The area in question is under preservation because of corals on the ocean floor. Fishing is prohibited there except with mid-water trawls and purse seine, Morgunblaðið reports.

During questioning by the Westman Islands police, the ship’s crew said they had sought information about areas under preservation in the region but found none.

“Those who come for fishing off the country are to familiarize themselves with standing regulations and possible temporary closures,” said Hrafnhildur Brynja Stefánsdóttir, information officer of the Icelandic Coast Guard.

She added a Faroese ship was also recently caught in the same area fishing with long-line.

“In this area we are trying to protect the corals on the ocean floor. The line is like a cable with hooks which can get caught in the corals and damage them,” explained Guðmundur Jóhannesson, divisional manager of fisheries control at the Directorate of Fisheries.

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ESA