Powell River’s fishery officers have had an extremely busy start to the summer season, with a number of charges being recommended against offenders.
According to fishery officer and field supervisor Matt Conley, the vessel master of a commercial prawn boat is being investigated for fishing in a glass sponge reef on the Sunshine Coast, which is a fragile conservation area that is closed to bottom fishing.
“The investigation has revealed numerous other violations, with 300 commercial prawn traps and a large quantity of live prawns seized,” said Conley. “Charges are being recommended to crown counsel.”
Three individuals were apprehended while in possession of 27 rockfish and seven undersized lingcod, said Conley.
“The vessel, fish and all fishing gear were seized,” he said. “Charges are being recommended to crown counsel.
Three individuals were apprehended while commercially harvesting more than 1,000 pounds of manila clams on Savary Island that were destined for commercial sale, according to Conley.
“Savary Island was closed at the time of the inspection,” he said. “The vessel and clams were seized.”
Charges are being recommended to crown counsel in this case.
Charges are also being recommended to crown counsel related to an individual harvesting a large quantity of oysters in a contaminated shellfish area.
Recreational chinook salmon fishing opened to retention on July 15 and anglers may now retain one chinook between 62 and 80 centimetres until August 31. Chinook fishing was closed from April 1until June 14due to conservation concerns with Fraser River chinook stocks, said Conley.
“Prior to the opening, numerous individuals were charged for retaining chinook during the closed time,” he added.
Charges have been laid to numerous individuals harvesting large quantities of shellfish and rockfish over the daily possession limits throughout the upper and lower Sunshine Coast, according to Conley. Powell River fishery officers cover the entire Sunshine Coast from Gibsons to Toba Inlet.
