A British judge ordered fines and penalties totaling a record-breaking $2.5 million against a Spanish fishing company, its British subsidiary, and two skippers for fishing illegally in UK waters. The company was accused of "flagrant, repeated and long-term abuse of the regulations" in endangering two vulnerable species, ling and hake, and damaging the livelihoods of local fishermen by putting cheaper fish on the market. The operation was discovered when the Royal Navy carried out a routine search of a boat owned by the company, discovering hundreds of kilograms of ling that had not been recorded in the official logs. The Marine Management Organisation later discovered that the fish had been illegally transferred between Spanish and British ships. The Organisation said that it was the largest fines it had ever seen. "We are pleased that the court has recognized the seriousness of these offenses," said the senior investigating officer. The decision comes as the EU fisheries commissioner attempts to reform policy, including ending the practice of discarding edible fish at sea, which has met with opposition from French and Spanish fishing industries. For the full story, see http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/jul/26/anglo-spanish-fishing-fine.