NR-PR-01-073E

August 8, 2001

Hope, B.C. – Three restaurants in the Hope area have recently been fined for violating the Fisheries Act after DNA testing was used to determine the origin of the fish, Fisheries and Oceans Canada announced today.

During the summer of 2000, fishery officers conducted inspections of restaurants and seafood retailers in the Fraser Valley area in an effort to ensure as well as educate owners and managers of businesses on the legal purchases of seafood. During these inspections, three restaurants were found in possession of fish that had not been commercially caught or processed and were therefore in violation of the Fisheries Act.

On July 26, 2000, Hank Lee, owner/manager of the Hope Husky restaurant, was found in possession of 47 sockeye salmon and two chinook salmon that were located in freezers adjacent to the restaurant. Fishery officers determined that the salmon had not been purchased from a commercial source. Mr. Lee was fined $500 and forfeited the fish valued at approximately $2,900.

On August 11, 2000, Paraskevi Grammatiko, owner of Grammy’s Restaurant in Hope was found in possession of approximately 37 sockeye salmon in her restaurant. Fishery officers determined that the salmon had not been purchased from a commercial source. Mrs. Grammatiko was fined $500 and forfeited the fish valued at more than $2,200.

On August 19, 2000, Wei Pei Chou, owner and manager of the New Golden Start Restaurant in Hope, was found in possession of approximately 30 sockeye salmon in his restaurant. Fishery officers determined that the salmon had not been purchased from a commercial source. Mr. Chou was fined $500 and forfeited the fish valued at approximately $1,800.

The salmon from each of the three restaurants was analyzed using DNA tests to determine its origin. As a result of the DNA analysis, as well as continued investigation, it was resolved that the fish had been harvested in 2000 from the Fraser River, at a time when there were conservation concerns for the salmon, and then illegally sold.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada would like to remind retailers and the public that only fish caught under a licence that authorizes sales should be purchased. Fish and shellfish that are being sold to the public must go through the necessary health and safety inspections that are required when selling to the public. Only seafood product that is accompanied by proper documentation to prove the commercial source, legal possession, and processing of the product should be purchased.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada is very concerned with illegal fishing activities and asks for assistance from the public in reporting any fisheries violations. Please call the 24-hour, toll-free Observe, Record, Report line at 1-800-465-4336.

- 30 -

		Fisheries and Oceans Canada - Pacific Region Contact Communications Branch Important Notices and Disclaimers Questions Contact: Webmaster Updated: 2006-05-23