Vessel Master Also Has to Comply With Fishing Restrictions for One Year
PORT HARDY, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - June 17, 2015) - A commercial groundfish harvester pled guilty in Port Hardy Provincial Court on May 13, 2015, to contraventions of the Fisheries Act. The Honourable Judge B.H. Saunderson sentenced Gordon Plensky, master and owner of the fishing vessel DEVOTION, for fishing in an area closed to commercial groundfish harvesting near Hartley Bay, in northern British Columbia. Mr. Plensky was ordered to pay a fine of $14,500. He also pled guilty to charges originating from a separate 2013 closed-area violation in Gwaii Haanas, and was fined an additional $8,500 and ordered to observe a 1km no-fishing prohibition around Rockfish Conservation Areas or other permanently closed areas for one year.
Quick Facts
The Government of Canada is committed to safeguarding the long-term health and productivity of Canada's fisheries resources, and the habitat that supports them, for generations to come. Fisheries and Oceans Canada has a mandate to protect and conserve marine resources and to 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.
As part of Fisheries and Oceans Canada's work to end illegal activity, the Department asks the 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.
Associated Links
• For more on B.C.'s Rockfish Conservation Areas: http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/maps-cartes/rca-acs/index-eng.html
• For more on Groundfish hook and line management: http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/commercial/ground-fond/index-eng.html
Internet: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
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