There are consequences for your actions. That’s the message the Department of Fisheries and Ocean is trying to send.
Ben Rahier, a DFO officer on the Sunshine Coast says around May of last year four individuals from the Lower Mainland were apprehended in the Egmont area for overfishing.
They had exceeded their daily possession limit of one rockfish a day by 11, some didn’t have licences, and a judge has ruled in a sentencing hearing the individuals will pay a total of $15 000 in fines plus more.
On top of that, the boat and fishing gear that were seized during the investigation will be forfeited to the crown and Rahier says the seized items is also worth about $15 thousand.
Rahier there was a lot of other circumstantial stuff that went into the file and other factors were considered for this case before the fine was handed down.
He says the individuals had some obstruction issues and made some false statements during the investigation as well.
