Port Alberni- Fisheries and Oceans Canada announced today that fishing without the authority of a commercial crab fishing licence, selling crabs not caught under the authority of a commercial licence, and failing to comply with conditions of a commercial fishing licence has resulted in a financial penalty totalling $15,700 for a commercial fisherman.

During a routine inspection of retail fish outlets in Surrey, B.C. and Vancouver, B.C., fishery officers seized documents that lead to an investigation relating to illegal fishing and the illegal sales of Dungenss crab. Between May 2000 and September 2000, and again between January 2001 and March 2001, Aron Joseph Edgar of Nitinat Lake, B.C., engaged in commercial crab fishing off the lower west coast of Vancouver Island near Nitinat Lake without valid licences. Mr. Edgar had failed to renew both his vessel's commercial category "R" crab licence and his own personal Fisher's Registration Card during these two time periods. Mr. Edgar sold crab, harvested without the authorization of commercial fishing licences, to a retail fish outlet in Vancouver. The crab was worth in excess of $30,000.

In April 2001, fishery officers in Port Alberni seized portions of Mr. Edgar's Crab Harvest Log Book, as they had not been submitted to the Fisheries and Oceans Canada Shellfish Data Unit. Mr. Edgar was issued a Fisheries Act demand to provide information with respect to the unauthorized sale of crab. He failed to provide the requested information within the specified time period.

Recently in Port Alberni provincial court, Mr. Edgar was convicted of 11 violations under the Fisheries Act and fined a total of $15,700, of which $12,000 will be directed towards Fisheries and Oceans Canada for fisheries enhancement efforts.

To meet the conservation and sustainable fishing objectives of the crab fishery, harvesting must be authorized by a licence and compliance with licence conditions is required. Commercial catch reporting and the timely submission of harvest information and log books are important aspects of the fishery, and are necessary for developing stock assessment information and fishing opportunities.

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:

Rob Tompkins
Fishery Officer
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Region
(250) 723-9470

Ron Kehl
C&P Supervisor
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Region
(250) 723-0143