Two provincial court cases in Prince Rupert that cost more than $17,000 in fines are among several across the province highlighted by Oceans and Fisheries Canada (DFO) in what happens when officers are embarrassed or when there is a failure to provide the required documents.

Bandstra Transportation was fined $8,750 after pleading guilty on November 17, 2021 to an offense under Canada’s Fisheries Act for failing to comply with a request for documents received from a fishery officer.

A second Prince Rupert Provincial Court case was cited involving an unnamed “longtime commercial vessel captain” convicted on August 31, 2020 of obstruction and specific obstruction of a fishery officer and sentenced to a fine of $10,000.

“Commercial fishers just have to cooperate fully and ensure that fishery officers are authorized to carry out inspections. …the court will not take lightly offenses involving fishery officers doing their job and exercising their lawful powers under the Fisheries Act,” Provincial Court Judge Calvin Struyk said in handing down the sentence.

Obstructing DFO fishery officers in the performance of their duties or failing to provide required documentation are serious and potentially costly offences, Fisheries and Oceans Canada said in a Feb. 22 news release.

Traceability of fish stocks in the highly regulated fishing industry is essential, DFO said.

“This is critical to sustainable inventory management, food safety, Canada’s treaty obligations and international reputation, and DFO’s ability to meet its responsibilities” , the statement said.

A significant degree of reporting is required in the sector, with information required from many parties involved in catching, processing and transporting fish to the final consumer.

Christopher Schill was fined $5,000 on obstruction charges when he pleaded guilty to the charges in North Vancouver Provincial Court on December 14, 2021.

“Mr. Schill, along with his colleague Sammy Williams and the ship’s captain Scott Steer, were arrested on March 1, 2020, in connection with an investigation and a series of subsequent trials which resulted in a fishing ban life for Mr. Steer and penalties for the crew. In addition to the fine, Mr. Schill has been ordered not to have any contact with Mr. Steer or Mr. Williams for the next three years.” , said DFO.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada has a mandate to protect and conserve marine resources and prosecute offenders under the Fisheries Act. It ensures and promotes compliance with the Act and other laws and regulations through a combination of land, air and sea patrols, as well as education and awareness activities.

Anyone with information about suspected violations of Canada’s Fisheries Act and its regulations can call Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s toll-free violation reporting line at 1-800-465-4336, or email the details. email to [email protected] -mpo.gc.ca.