DFO conducting 'forensic audit' on Prince Rupert area fish plant

Officials from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans are seeking some help from the public as they continue with a large scale forensic audit of an un-named fish processing facility in the Prince Rupert area.

At the heart of the investigation by the Federal Office are reports of illegal activities related to the fishing industry in the region, including the bartering or sale of fish in exchange for processing or other services.

DFO officials expect that the audit will reveal the possibility of illegal activities in the industry and that they would like to hear from those that may have sent fish to the processing plant.

DFO is particularly interested in receiving information from those customers who did not have portions of their catch returned or had another species returned to replace the original fish.

The fines and penalties for the incidents under investigation carry extensive fines and up to two years in jail if proven in court.

The newest investigation from DFO officials comes following the discovery of two separate dumps of crabs along Highway 16 in the last month or so, those two files remain under investigation as well by the Prince Rupert Office of the Federal department.

If you have any information related to any of the ongoing investigations you are asked to contact DFO at 250-627-3401

For more items of note related to the Fishery on the North Coast see our archive page here.

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