VANCOUVER - Fisheries and Oceans Canada announced today that a joint enforcement operation between federal fishery officers in British Columbia and conservation officers in Alberta has resulted in the recent conviction and a $12,000 fine for an Edmonton resident.

In August 2001, conservation officers of Alberta Sustainable Resource Development in Edmonton received a tip from the public indicating that Barry Deane Wasylyszyn was purchasing salmon that was not caught under a licence that authorizes sales, and importing it to the Edmonton area for re-sale. Fisheries and Oceans Canada was contacted by the conservation officers and a joint investigation was initiated.

Fishery and conservation officers detained Mr. Wasylyszyn near Edmonton as he returned from a reported fish-buying trip. An inspection of his vehicle revealed 182 whole sockeye salmon, along with numerous wrapped packages of smoked and dried fish portions. Mr. Wasylyszyn admitted that the fish had been purchased from an individual in the Kitwanga area (east of Terrace, B.C.) who had been fishing under an aboriginal communal fishing licence that did not authorize the sale of salmon.

The fish and Mr. Wasylyszyn's vehicle were subsequently seized. A food quality test of the smoked fish showed high levels of both E. Coli and fecal coliform bacteria, rendering them unfit for human consumption.

Recently, in Stony Plain, Alberta provincial court, Mr. Wasylyszyn plead guilty to knowingly transporting and selling fish taken or sold illegally and for sale of tainted fish. He was fined $12,000.

Charges were recently laid against David Alexander of Kitwanga, B.C. for the unauthorized sale of salmon as a direct result of this case.

DFO would like to remind the public that only fish caught under a licence that authorizes the sale of that fish 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:

Bryan Jubinville
Fishery Officer
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Region
Phone: (250) 754-0221
Pager: 1-800-393-9109