Kelowna - A Peachland restaurant has been fined for purchasing salmon not caught under the authority of a commercial fishing licence, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) announced today.

On August 25, 2001, in response to a complaint from the public on the potential illegal sale of salmon, an inspection was conducted on the Gasthaus Restaurant in Peachland, B.C by a fishery officer and provincial conservation officers. At the time of the inspection, 12 sockeye salmon were seized from the premises to determine the source of the fish.

The salmon was analyzed using fish scale re-absorbsion tests. As a result of the scale analysis, it was resolved that the fish had been harvested from the Fraser River, at a time when there were no commercial fisheries, and then illegally sold. A lack of purchase documentation indicated to the officers that the fish had been purchased through illegal sources and had not been through the necessary health inspections to ensure public safety.

Gasthaus Holdings Ltd., the owner of Gasthaus Restaurant, was subsequently charged under the Fisheries Act.

Recently, Gasthaus Holdings Ltd. pleaded guilty to purchasing fish not caught under the authority of a commercial fishing licence and was fined $3,000. The salmon was forfeited to the Crown. This was the restaurant's first offence.

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.

Contacts:

Doug Cowen
Fishery Officer
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Region
(250) 804-7000