Squamish - Fisheries and Oceans Canada announced today that two Vancouver residents have been convicted and fined a total of $1,400 for exceeding their daily limit of rockfish. 

Recently, fishery officers conducted a patrol of the fishing sites along Highway 99, adjacent to Howe Sound, near Squamish.  At one of the sites, fishery officers found that two anglers had caught and retained a total of 26 rockfish in excess of the daily quota. 

Kwok Ming Shum was fined $600 for exceeding his rockfish daily limit by 10 fish.  Run Tang Xie was fined $800 for exceeding his rockfish daily limit by 16 fish.  Fishery officers seized the excess fish, as well as the gear used in the commission of the offence. 

In 2002, Fisheries and Oceans Canada announced a rockfish conservation strategy to halt the declines of inshore rockfish and allow the stocks a chance to rebuild.  The strategy includes harvest reduction for the recreational fishery, with a daily limit of one (1) rockfish in those waters of Howe Sound, Indian Arm and the southern Straight of Georgia (Areas 28 and 29).  For more information on the rockfish conservation strategy, as well as how you can be involved, visit the Department's consultation website at www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca 

The Department is extremely concerned with the illegal activity and asks for assistance from the general public for information on activities of this nature or any contravention of the Fisheries Act.  To report violations please call the 24-hour, toll-free Observe, Record and Report line at 1-800-465-4336.  

Contact:

Dave Loop or Murray Gilchrist
Fishery Officers
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Region
(604) 892-3230