A judge at the Powell River provincial court has fined a man $30,000 for fishing in a closed area of Desolation Sound among other violations of the Fisheries Act.
Hai A. Trinh was found guilty in Powell River Provincial Court for retaining undersize prawns, and other violations of the Fisheries Ac, including fishing in a closed area of Desolation Sound.
The Honourable Justice Leven Wingham ordered the commercial prawn harvester to pay a fine of $30,000 and forfeit the value of his catch, which sold for $12,630.
The case goes back to June 18, 2019, when fishery officers received information from the public about a commercial prawn fishing vessel operating in a closed area.
Fishery officers from the Powell River Conservation and Protection Detachment intercepted the prawn vessel at sea.
They found 200 prawn traps on board with fresh prawns, with two more strings of gear still fishing.
All the traps were pulled from the water and the live catch was released. The officers escorted Trinh to Lund where the catch was seized and sold.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada has a mandate to protect and conserve marine resources and to prosecute offenders under the Fisheries Act.
Anyone with information on activities flouting fisheries rules can call the toll-free violation reporting line at 1-800-465-4336, or email the details to DFO.ORR-ONS.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.
Rick says
Fine way too low!
Should have lost boat and license. Plus 100,000.00 fine