suing the Minister of the Environment.

A writ was filed in the Supreme Court this week by Michael and Donna Barnes against Environment Minister Arthur Hodgson.

It is understood the writ revolves around the denial of a commercial fisherman's licence to Barnes. He was caught in a Police investigation of his boat Lone Star in the Great Sound on March 23.

The Lone Star is believed to have been confiscated by the Fisheries Ministry like other boats boarded during Marine Police and Fishery official raids during the pot clampdown.

This news comes after the sentencing this week of two commercial fishermen and a helper for using illegal fish pots.

Magistrate Will Francis laid down $9,000 in fines for each.

He said the only things preventing them from going to prison was the non-renewal of their fishing license and the fact their boat had been confiscated and would likely be the subject of a forfeiture case. Fish pots were controversially banned in 1990 by then-Environment Minister Ann Cartwright DeCouto amid fears of declining fish stocks.

Barnes and three others on his boat were charged with possession and use of illegal fish pots.

The writ is filed under the Administration of Justice (Prerogative of Writs) Act 1978 and a decision by the Minister of the Environment dated May 11, 2000.

Diel and Myers is representing the Barnes'