POWELL RIVER - Two Campbell River men have been fined under the federal Fisheries Act after pleading guilty to illegal fishing on the Homathko River, located north of Powell River on Bute Inlet.

Charles Kolya Koropecki was fined a total of $1,200 for fishing with prohibited gear, making a false or misleading statement to an officer, possessing more than twice the daily quota of fish, and catching and retaining more than the daily quota of fish.

Marc Stephen Telosky was fined a total of $800 for possessing more than twice the daily quota of fish and for catching and retaining more than the daily quota of fish.

The maximum penalty for these offences under the Fisheries Act is $100,000 and up to a year in prison.

On March 22, 2001, provincial conservation officers caught the two men with 19 bull trout and cutthroat trout. The daily limit for trout is two fish. Bull trout are also a blue-listed species by the province's Conservation Data Centre, which means they are found only in a restricted range and are vulnerable to over-fishing.

The fines were the result of a co-operative enforcement and compliance project involving conservation officers and ministry habitat protection staff in 2000-2001. Remote coastal areas were patrolled, including creeks and rivers entering Bute Inlet, Toba Inlet and Phillips Arm. As a result, 72 investigations were undertaken for infractions of the provincial Wildlife Act, Waste Management Act and Forest Practices Code, as well as the federal Fisheries Act.

Anglers are reminded to check regulations for the waters where they intend to fish. The provincial regulations are at www.bcfisheries.gov.bc.ca/rec/recreational-freshwater.html online.

Media contact:

Betsy Terpsma
Communications
Surrey
(604) 582-5306