Four Albertans face thousands of dollars in fines after B.C. fishing bust

Four Albertans are in hot water after a B.C. fishing trip, saying they didn’t know the rules.

The four men have been fined more than $4,500 and have lost 80 pounds of halibut and crab in a Conservative Officer Service (COS) bust.

The COS was conducting routine recreational fishing checks on Wednesday when the illegal catch was found.

Officers seized nine halibut and four bags of processed crab just outside Terrace, B.C.

The COS regularly checks fishing compliance throughout the summer on land and water.

In a Facebook post, the COS says people need to know the rules and regulations before they head out on a trip – and not knowing those rules is no excuse.

Numerous violation tickets were issued under the Fisheries Act.

The seafood will be distributed to people in Terrace in need.

Penalties for men involved

According to the Fisheries Act, part two for licensing fisheries, people must have a license, stating:

1. No person shall fish or take fish, or attempt to take fish, within the Province or its coastal waters, unless he holds a valid and subsisting license issued for that purpose and has paid the fee prescribed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

In the same part, regarding licensing, the offence and penalty states:

1. Every person who fishes or takes fish, or attempts to fish or take fish without having paid the license fee imposed by order of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, or who is convicted of any other offence against this Part, is liable on conviction to the penalties provided in the Offence Act.
2. Each day’s continuance of fishing or taking of fish, or attempting to fish or take fish, in contravention of this Part shall be deemed to constitute a separate offence.

According to the Offence Act, a person who is convicted could face a fine of up to $2,000, jail time up to six months, or both.

The actual fine in a specific case is determined by the provincial court judge.

-With files from Lisa Grant