05-12-2004, 04:09 AM
Significant Fine To Deter Crab Poachers In Burrard Inlet
VANCOUVER - Fisheries and Oceans Canada announced today that two Surrey residents have been fined $5,500 for illegal recreational crab poaching activity in Burrard Inlet.
On July 19, 2003 in Burrard Inlet, fishery officers were on a routine boat patrol when they stopped to inspect a recreational boat with two crab harvesters on board. As a result of the boat inspection and a subsequent inspection of a vehicle on shore at Cates Park in North Vancouver, 40 Dungeness crabs (22 of which were undersized) and three Red Rocks crabs were found. In addition, 14 crabs were shucked into pieces and another four had been eaten, for a total of 61 crabs. An inspection of the fishing gear revealed that of the three crab traps that the harvesters were using, one of the traps had a disabled rot cord escape mechanism, making it an illegal trap, and the other two traps were not marked with the operator's name on the float.
Bhim Chandra Raj and Dharmend Singh were subsequently arrested and their boat and fishing gear seized.
Recently in North Vancouver provincial court, Mr. Raj and Mr. Singh pleaded guilty to catching/retaining undersized Dungeness crabs, exceeding the daily quota of crabs, and fishing with an illegal crab trap. In total, they received fines totalling $5,500 and all fishing gear was ordered forfeit. The boat and motor were returned. Mr. Raj and Mr. Singh are also prohibited for two years from fishing and possessing a fishing licence or fishing gear. Of the $5,500 fine, $5,300 will be used for promoting the conservation and protection of fish and fish habitat in the Burrard Inlet area. The severity of the penalty is intended to act as a deterrent for others who are engaging or considering engaging in similar poaching activity, coastwide and particularly in Burrard Inlet.
The minimum size limit for Dungeness crabs is 165 millimeters and for Red Rock crabs is 115 millimeters.
All crab traps must have a section in the top or sidewall that has been secured by a length of untreated cotton twine no greater than No. 120. On deterioration this must produce a rectangular opening with a minimum size of 7 cm x 20 cm, or a square opening with a minimum size of 11 cm x 11 cm.
This regulation is intended to ensure that if the trap is lost, the section secured by the cord will rot, allowing captive crabs to escape and to prevent the trap from continuing to fish.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada is extremely concerned with unauthorized activity and asks for assistance from 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.
-30-
Contact:
Michelle Imbeau
Communications Officer
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Region
(604) 666-2872
[signature]
VANCOUVER - Fisheries and Oceans Canada announced today that two Surrey residents have been fined $5,500 for illegal recreational crab poaching activity in Burrard Inlet.
On July 19, 2003 in Burrard Inlet, fishery officers were on a routine boat patrol when they stopped to inspect a recreational boat with two crab harvesters on board. As a result of the boat inspection and a subsequent inspection of a vehicle on shore at Cates Park in North Vancouver, 40 Dungeness crabs (22 of which were undersized) and three Red Rocks crabs were found. In addition, 14 crabs were shucked into pieces and another four had been eaten, for a total of 61 crabs. An inspection of the fishing gear revealed that of the three crab traps that the harvesters were using, one of the traps had a disabled rot cord escape mechanism, making it an illegal trap, and the other two traps were not marked with the operator's name on the float.
Bhim Chandra Raj and Dharmend Singh were subsequently arrested and their boat and fishing gear seized.
Recently in North Vancouver provincial court, Mr. Raj and Mr. Singh pleaded guilty to catching/retaining undersized Dungeness crabs, exceeding the daily quota of crabs, and fishing with an illegal crab trap. In total, they received fines totalling $5,500 and all fishing gear was ordered forfeit. The boat and motor were returned. Mr. Raj and Mr. Singh are also prohibited for two years from fishing and possessing a fishing licence or fishing gear. Of the $5,500 fine, $5,300 will be used for promoting the conservation and protection of fish and fish habitat in the Burrard Inlet area. The severity of the penalty is intended to act as a deterrent for others who are engaging or considering engaging in similar poaching activity, coastwide and particularly in Burrard Inlet.
The minimum size limit for Dungeness crabs is 165 millimeters and for Red Rock crabs is 115 millimeters.
All crab traps must have a section in the top or sidewall that has been secured by a length of untreated cotton twine no greater than No. 120. On deterioration this must produce a rectangular opening with a minimum size of 7 cm x 20 cm, or a square opening with a minimum size of 11 cm x 11 cm.
This regulation is intended to ensure that if the trap is lost, the section secured by the cord will rot, allowing captive crabs to escape and to prevent the trap from continuing to fish.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada is extremely concerned with unauthorized activity and asks for assistance from 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.
-30-
Contact:
Michelle Imbeau
Communications Officer
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Region
(604) 666-2872
[signature]