Agassiz Restaurant Owner Fined for Selling Non-Commercially Caught Salmon
CHILLIWACK - An Upper Fraser Valley restaurant has been fined for offering sockeye salmon for sale that had not been caught under the authority of a commercial fishing licence, and for providing false information to fishery officers, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) announced today.
On August 2, 2000, fishery officers conducted an inspection of Rustica's Restaurant in the town of Agassiz, as a result of an anonymous tip from the public. During the inspection, several pounds of fresh salmon were found in meal-sized portions in the food preparation area of the restaurant. The fish was believed to be sockeye salmon, however the owner of the restaurant told fishery officers that it was Atlantic salmon. After obtaining samples of the fish, fishery officers sent the samples to the Pacific Biological Station in Nanaimo for analysis using DNA tests. The test results concluded that the fish was sockeye. The owner of the restaurant was unable to produce documentation to prove that the sockeye salmon had been purchased from a commercial vendor.
Nabil Bentroudi, the owner of Rustica's Restaurant, was subsequently charged under both the Fisheries Act and the Fishery (General) Regulations.
On May 1, 2002, in Hope provincial court, Mr. Bentroudi was found guilty and received a fine of $1,000.
DFO would like to remind the public that only fish caught under a licence that authorizes sales should be purchased. In addition to this, fish and shellfish that is being sold to the public must go through the necessary health and safety inspections that are required when selling to the public. For further information, contact your local DFO office.
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 violation reporting line at 1-800-465-4336.
Media contacts:
Perry Powers
Fishery Officer
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Region
(604) 702-2273
