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VANCOUVER – Fisheries and Oceans Canada announced today that two commercial harvesters have been convicted for contravening the Fisheries Act: a Richmond resident has been fined for double hauling prawn gear and illegally possessing inshore rockfish, and a Powell River resident has also been fined for double hauling prawn gear. Earlier during the prawn season, a member of the public informed fishery officers that potential illegal activity was being conducted in Belleisle Sound (south of Kingcome Inlet) aboard the commercial fishing vessel, Chinese Wild Swan. On May 30, 2002, a patrol of the area by fishery officers determined that the skipper and crew of the vessel were hauling three sets of the prawn gear, twice per day. The next day, a joint force of fishery officers and members of the Canadian Coast Guard’s Sooke Post boarded the vessel and arrested the crew for "double hauling" prawn gear. The prawn licence condition permits only one hauling of commercial prawn gear per day. The skipper was then directed to immediately off-load all fish product under seizure at Port Hardy. Further inspection revealed the concealment of multiple species of frozen inshore rockfish in approximately 54 boxes labelled for commercial prawn. The boxes and fishing gear, including traps and groundline, were subsequently seized. Recently in Richmond provincial court, Kam Fai Lee, skipper of the Chinese Wild Swan, pleaded guilty to double hauling prawn gear, contrary to a licence condition and retaining a prohibited species of fish. Mr. Lee was ordered to pay a total fine of $5,500, of which $4,000 will be directed to the industry for prawn research or other uses of common interest. The use of the funds will be undertaken in conjunction with advice from elected industry representatives of the Prawn Sectoral Committee. In addition to the fine, the seized fishing gear and illegal catch were forfeited, valued at approximately $23,000. In a similar case, on May 1 and 2, 2002, fishery officers conducted a surveillance of a commercial prawn vessel north of Powell River that was suspected of illegal fishing activity. During the surveillance, the vessel was observed double hauling a string of commercial prawn gear. Fishery officers apprehended the captain of the vessel Double Odds and charges were subsequently laid. At the time of the arrest, approximately $3,300 worth of prawns and a 50-trap string of commercial gear were seized. Recently, in Powell River provincial court, Randy Lloyd Phalen was sentenced for contravening a term and condition of his commercial prawn fishing licence by double hauling his gear. Mr. Phalen was fined $5,010, of which $5,000 will be directed towards further management, enforcement, conservation, protection, and enhancement of the prawn fishery. The seized catch and the fishing gear were also forfeited. The total financial penalty to Mr. Phalen as a result of the forfeiture and fine is about $11,700. Fisheries and Oceans Canada is extremely concerned with any illegal activity and asks for assistance from the general public for information on activities of this nature or any other illegal activity or contravention of the Fisheries Act and Regulations. Anyone with information can call the toll-free violation reporting line at 1-800-465-4336. - 30 -
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