VANCOUVER - Fisheries and Oceans Canada announced today that a Vancouver seafood distributor has been charged with purchasing and selling salmon not caught under a licence that authorizes sales. 

Recently, fishery officers conducted a routine restaurant inspection in Abbotsford, B.C.  This inspection yielded information that has lead to charges being laid against Yummy Seafoods, a Vancouver-based seafood wholesaler that was allegedly distributing large quantities of salmon to restaurants and retail outlets in the Lower Mainland area.  The salmon had not been caught by a licence that authorizes sales.  Fishery officers subsequently seized more than 4,000 pounds of sockeye salmon.   

Fisheries and Oceans Canada 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. 

This summer, fishery officers will again be conducting patrols of the Fraser River area, as well as at local seafood retail outlets and restaurants, to ensure that only lawfully-caught and inspected fish products are being sold to the public. 

The Department 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:

Paul Cottrell
Fishery Officer
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
(604) 664-9254

Robert Graham
Fishery Officer
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
(604) 664-9204