PRINCE RUPERT, B.C. -- v> A commercial salmon harvester has been ordered to pay just under $89,000 in penalties for violating fishing regulations.
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Commercial salmon harvester fined nearly $89,000 for Fisheries Act violations
Published Tuesday, November 30, 2021 5:30PM PST Last Updated Tuesday, November 30, 2021 5:44PM PST
An aerial image of Garry Dean Stoner's fishing vessel, as captured by the DFO's Fisheries Aerial Surveillance and Enforcement Program. (Source: Department of Fisheries and Oceans).
A news release from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans says on July 2nd, Garry Dean Stoner pled guilty to 12 counts under the Fisheries Act for violations that occurred north of Haida Gwaii. He was also handed an 18-month suspension from commercial salmon fishing.
A routine inspection in 2017 found that Stoner had overfished his quota of Chinook salmon; held prohibited fish; failed to submit a single Coho or Chinook salmon head between the three separate required landings and violated other commercial licence requirements.
Fishery officers later conducted another investigation of Stoner's fishing activities in 2018 after receiving reports he continued to not comply with his license conditions. .
The DFO says these significant penalties underscore the consequences for commercial harvesters who don't comply with the Fisheries Act.