$7,000 in Fines for Recreational Rockfish Fishing Violations
April 1, 2008
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Vancouver, B.C. – A recreational fisher from Port Coquitlam was fined $3,000 in North Vancouver provincial court on January 10, 2008, after pleading guilty to exceeding the daily quota for rockfish and obstructing a fishery officer. The Court also prohibited Mr. Bo Qiang Huang from fishing or obtaining a fishing licence for five years.
In the same case, Mr. Xiao Ping Hua and Mrs. Ngan Chu Wong Chiu of Port Coquitlam were fined $2,000 each on January 10, 2008, after pleading guilty to exceeding the daily quota for rockfish. The Court also prohibited Mr. Huang and Mrs. Chiu from fishing or obtaining a fishing licence for one year.
On August 14, 2007, fishery officers observed Mr. Huang, Mr. Hua and Mrs. Chiu fishing from a vessel in West Vancouver. Mr. Huang emptied a cooler containing 45 rockfish into the water after being told repeatedly by fishery officers to put the cooler down. Due to the air bladders inside rockfish, the dead fish floated at the surface and were retrieved by fishery officers.
Recent monitoring and research programs have indicated that inshore rockfish stocks, especially in the Strait of Georgia, are at low levels. Rockfish can live to be well over 100 years old and many will not reproduce until they are 10 to 15 years old. Rockfish productivity is very low and they rarely survive after being caught and released.
DFO acts to end illegal fishing activity. As part of this work, the Department is asking 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.
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April 1, 2008
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Vancouver, B.C. – A recreational fisher from Port Coquitlam was fined $3,000 in North Vancouver provincial court on January 10, 2008, after pleading guilty to exceeding the daily quota for rockfish and obstructing a fishery officer. The Court also prohibited Mr. Bo Qiang Huang from fishing or obtaining a fishing licence for five years.
In the same case, Mr. Xiao Ping Hua and Mrs. Ngan Chu Wong Chiu of Port Coquitlam were fined $2,000 each on January 10, 2008, after pleading guilty to exceeding the daily quota for rockfish. The Court also prohibited Mr. Huang and Mrs. Chiu from fishing or obtaining a fishing licence for one year.
On August 14, 2007, fishery officers observed Mr. Huang, Mr. Hua and Mrs. Chiu fishing from a vessel in West Vancouver. Mr. Huang emptied a cooler containing 45 rockfish into the water after being told repeatedly by fishery officers to put the cooler down. Due to the air bladders inside rockfish, the dead fish floated at the surface and were retrieved by fishery officers.
Recent monitoring and research programs have indicated that inshore rockfish stocks, especially in the Strait of Georgia, are at low levels. Rockfish can live to be well over 100 years old and many will not reproduce until they are 10 to 15 years old. Rockfish productivity is very low and they rarely survive after being caught and released.
DFO acts to end illegal fishing activity. As part of this work, the Department is asking 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.
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