PORT HARDY - An American-owned company operating a well-known North Island tourist destination has pleaded guilty to damaging fish habitat in contravention of the Fisheries Act, Fisheries and Oceans Canada announced today. 

On September 9, 2003, Telegraph Cove Venture, Inc. was fined $16,000 in Port Hardy Provincial Court after the company pleaded guilty to a charge under the habitat protection provisions of the Fisheries Act. The fine is to be directed to the Nimpkish Resource Management Society to fund projects approved by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) that protect and restore fish habitat in the Kokish River estuary. 

A routine patrol of the Bauza Cove area (south of Telegraph Cove) in 2001 discovered work on the foreshore not authorized by DFO. An inspection by fishery officers and habitat staff determined that the larger rocks of Bauza Cove's intertidal zone had been removed by an excavator and the ocean bottom levelled in two different areas. 

An excavator had cleared the near foreshore of Bauza Cove of large rocks, which were then piled along the high tide line. In the other disturbed area, near the middle of the cove, the ocean bottom was removed during low tide using the excavated materials to build up a road and a dam to retain water for the recreational area. DFO ordered the company to halt all works and remediate the area. 

The fish and shellfish, such as clams, mussels, sculpins, perch and flatfish, living in Bauza Cove are commonly found in B.C.'s estuaries. Bauza Creek, which feeds into Bauza Cove, supports populations of coho salmon and cutthroat trout. 

DFO would like to remind the public that undisturbed vegetation and habitat in estuary and foreshore areas are essential for maintaining healthy fish stocks and that fish habitat destruction is a violation of the Fisheries Act.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada is concerned about the protection of fish habitat and water quality, 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.

Contact:

Todd Parker
Fishery Officer
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Region
Port Hardy
(250) 949-3082