ABBOTSFORD - Fisheries and Oceans Canada announced today that a commercial salmon fisher was ordered to forfeit his fishing vessel, Albion Ranger, to the Crown after pleading guilty to fishing during a closure and obstructing a fishery officer. 

The operator of the vessel, Michael James Murphy, of Mission, BC has been a commercial fisher for many years and has several previous convictions for Fisheries Act violations. In Abbotsford provincial court earlier this year, Mr. Murphy pled guilty to fishing during a closure and obstructing a fishery officer. He received five months jail time, followed by 18 months probation, which includes the condition that he is not to be found within 50 meters of the Fraser River. He also pled guilty to a Criminal Code charge of Failing to Appear in Court and received a further two-week jail sentence. 

In the early hours of July 25, 2001, the Albion Ranger was observed fishing illegally during the 2001 Early Stuart sockeye conservation closure on the Fraser River. The vessel was seen in the waters of the Fraser River between Matsqui and Crescent Islands, Abbotsford. After a period of surveillance, several fishery officers in two patrol boats boarded the vessel and arrested Mr. Murphy. On seeing the fishery officers approaching, Murphy threw his catch of sockeye salmon overboard. Mr. Murphy was taken to Mission RCMP jail and the Albion Ranger was seized. 

This is the second time in British Columbia's history that a commercial fishing vessel has been ordered forfeit. The first forfeiture was in March 2000 for the Sea Star, a commercial crab vessel in Surrey, B.C. 

Fisheries and Oceans Canada is extremely concerned with any illegal activity and asks for assistance from the general public for information on activities of this nature or any other illegal activity or contravention of the Fisheries Act and Regulations.  Anyone with information can call the toll-free violation reporting line at 1-800-465-4336.  

Contact:

Derek Andriatz
Fishery Officer
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Region
(604) 607-4157

Neil Jensen
Fishery Officer
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Region
(604) 607-4163