NR-PR-02-021E |
April
15, 2002 |
|
RECREATIONAL SHELLFISH HARVESTER
RECEIVES HEFTY FINE
|
Campbell River, BC – Fisheries and Oceans Canada
announced today that a Parksville resident has been fined $2,000 for
recreational prawn fishing violations.
On November 26, 2001, fishery officers inspected coolers in the back of a
pick-up truck parked on the Kelsey Bay government dock in Sayward, B.C. During
the inspection, several crabs and a cooler full of head-off prawn tails weighing
more than 60 pounds (approximately 27 kilograms) were seized from the owner of
the vehicle, Charles Porter. Mr. Porter was subsequently arrested by fishery
officers and his vehicle was seized. Fishery officers later boarded Mr. Porter’s
vessel and seized 15 prawn traps and all gear related to the offence.
The daily limit for prawns caught under a recreational fishing licence is 2.5
kilograms (head and thorax removed). The possession limit is five kilograms. The
maximum number of traps that may be used while harvesting is four per person.
Recently, in Campbell River provincial court, Mr. Porter pled guilty to being
in possession of more than twice his daily limit of prawns and fishing for
prawns with more than four traps. Mr. Porter was fined $2,000. Mr. Porter’s
tidal water sport fishing licence was suspended and he is prohibited for
applying or possessing a tidal water sport fishing licence for a period of two
years. In addition, he is prohibited from possessing any gear for prawn or
shrimp fishing, possessing any prawns or shrimp, and prohibited from being on or
in any vessel or vehicle that has prawn or shrimp fishing gear in it or on it
for a period of two years.
Mr. Porter also forfeited the prawns/shrimp, prawn traps, buoys, lines and
ropes, pulley, bait cups and bait that were seized at the time of the
inspection.
Mr. Porter was given three years probation with conditions that if his fines
were not paid the prohibition against acquiring a sports fishing licence would
be extended a further year from the original order.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada asks for assistance from the public in reporting
any fisheries-related violations. Please call the 24-hour, toll-free Observe,
Record, Report line at: 1-800-465-4336.
|
For more information contact:
Roger Douglas
Fishery Officer
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Region
(250) 850-5710 |
Paul Nestman
Fishery Officer
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Region
(250) 850-5725
|
back to Prawnvoice
|
