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NORTH COAST PRAWN FISHER FINED $4,000Fisheries and Oceans Canada - News Release November 16, 2004 Prince Rupert, BCFisheries and Oceans Canada announced today that a prawn fisherman has been fined for retaining undersized prawns and illegally retaining eels during a commercial fishery. On May 27, 2003, fishery officers boarded the Canadian fishing vessel Jessie G, which was engaged in the commercial prawn-by-trap fishery in Principe Channel. An inspection of the vessel's freezer led to the discovery of numerous boxes containing undersized prawns. There were also four eels in the freezer that had been incidentally caught but were not legally allowed to be retained. Buu Le, the skipper of the vessel, was subsequently charged with failing to comply with licence conditions (releasing undersized prawns) and failing to release incidental catch. The undersized prawns and eels were seized. Recently, in Prince Rupert provincial court, Mr. Le pled guilty and was fined a total of $4,000. The current minimum size limit for prawns in the commercial trap fishery is 33 millimetres, from the back of the eye socket to the back of the shell covering the head. This measure is in place to ensure the long term sustainability of the fishery. Fishers are required to immediately sort and release any berried females (females carrying eggs under their tails) and to release undersized prawns. Commercial fishers also use a larger mesh size on traps to reduce the capture of undersized prawns. Fisheries and Oceans Canada is extremely concerned with illegal activity and asks for assistance from the general public for information on activities of this nature or any contravention of the Fisheries Act and Regulations. Anyone with information can call the toll-free Observe, Record, Report violation reporting line at 1-800-465-4336. For further information:
Michelle Imbeau |