Illegal Sale of Sockeye Nets Hefty Fine

[flyfishforfun]

Illegal Sale of Sockeye Nets Hefty Fine
February 24, 2009


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Port Hardy, B.C. – A Port McNeill man was fined $5,000 in Port Hardy Provincial Court November 19, 2008, after pleading guilty to selling fish caught by a harvester without a license authorizing sales.
James Robert Wadhams was charged after fishery officers observed him and another man selling sockeye salmon to the public July 29, 2005, in the community of Woss, B.C. Alert Bay resident Jeffrey Salmon has also been charged in relation to this incident and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. At the time there had been no recent commercial sockeye fisheries in the area. Given that the salmon may not have been from a lawful commercial source, the fishery officers were concerned that the fish could pose a health risk to the public.

Both Wadhams and Salmon were apprehended at the scene and $1,500 from the sale of the salmon, plus a vehicle, were seized. The $1,500 was forfeited to the Crown upon the conviction of Wadhams, while the truck was exempted from forfeiture.

On further investigation it was determined that the 169 sockeye salmon in question were harvested under an aboriginal communal license for food, social, ceremonial purposes. Fish harvested under this type of permit cannot be legally bought or sold. The buyers of the salmon were also charged and convicted under the Fisheries Act for purchasing fish not licensed for sale. Pursuant to the Fisheries (General) Regulations, no person shall buy, sell, trade or barter, or offer to buy, sell, trade or barter, any fish that has been caught without a license that authorizes sale.

DFO acts to end illegal fishing activity. As part of this work, the Department ask 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.

[flyfishforfun]

One interesting point is that the people buying the fish were fined as well- not only is it morally wrong, it is also legally wrong. Something to keep in mind if someone tries to sell you a fish.

[phearless]

Good on them.
We need more of this.

Thanks for the post.

The member formerly known as flyfishforfun.

[chauchey]

I wish they'd fine them something like 50k. Then maybe someone would bat an eye.
Its nice to see something happen, but this is more of a moral victory, not a substantial one. I really would like to see the money from the fines going to the hatchery programs.