Two men were ordered to pay a $5,000 fine each and had their sailboat and fishing gear forfeited for violating fishing regulations.
On February 23, Niu Shu and Chuck Fung pleaded guilty in Sechelt Provincial Court to several significant recreational rockfish and lingcod fishing violations near Egmont on Sunshine Coast.
The Honourable Justice Patrick Steinberg prohibited Shu and Fung from fishing for a year, and ordered each recreational fisher to pay a fine of $5,000, as well as forfeit all fishing gear and fish.
Shu was also ordered to forfeit his sailboat.
On July 6, 2020, fishery officers responded to information from the public about a group of recreational anglers on a sailboat fishing in the area of the Skookumchuck Narrows.
Officers from the Powell River Conservation and Protection Detachment approached the fishers once the vessel docked, and conducted an inspection onboard.
The anglers were found to have caught and retained fish over and above the conditions of their licences, and several of the fish were undersized.
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.
Appalling, disgusting behaviour! Throw the book at them.