The Government today welcomed a court's decision to impose a record fine on a Sussex man for smuggling live fish into the UK.

In a landmark ruling, Lewes Magistrates Court last week imposed total fines and costs of almost £30,000 on Andrew Green after he admitted illegally importing a mixture of ornamental fish, including the much-prized koi carp.

Fisheries minister Elliot Morley said: "This record fine shows how seriously the court regards smuggling of live fish. This illicit and ecologically dangerous black market trade must be stamped out.

"We must protect legitimate trade in live fish and ensure the survival of the UK's valuable and diverse wild fish species."

Green, of Hadlow Down, near Uckfield, and Surrey-based Star Fisheries pleaded guilty to five offences under fish health and import laws.

The court heard the live fish wholesaler put healthy British stocks of carp at risk of disease by bypassing the necessary checks.

Fish health inspectors tracked and intercepted an Italian lorry which entered Green's premises after dark in May.

It was found to contain a consignment of live fish but there were no accompanying health check documents.

Highly contagious fish virus SVC is widespread in Italy and can cause significant death rates among carp and species such as goldfish, tench and pike.

Green also admitted keeping grass carp and sturgeon without a licence and failing to comply with the conditions of his fish-keeping licence.

He was ordered to pay a total of £29,808.77 in fines and costs. The previous highest penalty for similar offences was about £8,000.