A review of some recent DFO enforcement actions has put the spotlight on the work of those DFO officers based in the Prince Rupert area.
In an update release by Fisheries and Ocean Canada, Pacific Region on Tuesday, the actions taken by Fisheries Offices in November of 2021 where chronicled, with the case file notes as follows:
On November 17, 2021, in Prince Rupert Provincial Court, Bandstra Transportation Systems, Ltd. pleaded guilty to a violation of Canada's Fisheries Act for failing to comply with a demand for records received from a fishery officer. The Honourable Judge Richard R. Blaskovits ordered the Company, which transports fish, among other goods, to pay a fine of $8,750.
The overview of a total of four cases, also reached back to August 30, 2020 to reprise a review of a case file from that period related to obstruction of a fishery office:
On August 31, 2020, in Prince Rupert Provincial Court, a long-time commercial vessel master was found guilty of obstructing and specifically hindering a fishery officer. The fine was $10,000 and the Honourable Judge C.A. Struyk commented that "Commercial fishers, simply, must fully cooperate and ensure fisheries officers are allowed to conduct inspections. …the court will not take lightly offences that involve fisheries officers doing their jobs and exercising their legal powers under the Fisheries Act."
The two other cases were in relation to two enforcement incidents in southern waters from 2021.
You can review the full review here of the cases which DFO notes highlights the potential costs, both financial and legal, of obstructing fishery officers.
For more notes on the work of Emergency Services and Law Enforcement on the North Coast both on land and water see our archive page here.
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