COMMERCIAL FISHER CONVICTED OF FISHING FOR SALMON WITH AN
ILLEGAL GILLNET

Prince Rupert, B.C. – Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) announced today that a commercial salmon fisher residing in Masset, Queen Charlotte Islands, B.C., has pled guilty to fishing for salmon with a gillnet with less than six strands.

On July 22, 2004, fishery officers were conducting vessel inspections during a commercial gillnet salmon fishery in Area 4 near Prince Rupert, and discovered that the vessel Miss Kuldo was fishing with an illegal gillnet.  The illegal gillnet was seized and the skipper, Daniel McNeill, was charged.

Recently, in Prince Rupert provincial court, Mr. McNeill received a fine of $1000 and was ordered to forfeit the illegal net web. 

Commercial salmon net fisheries are closely monitored by fishery officers to ensure compliance with the regulations.  In 1997, after net construction testing and a consultative process with the fishing industry, the minimum six strand net became legally required as the standard commercial salmon gillnet.  The six strand nets have known catch rates and the impacts on fish stocks have been determined.  It gives all fishermen an equal opportunity to catch their share of the salmon in a competitive fishery.  It also allows DFO, because of the nets tested fishing power, to quantify the impact any fishery will have on fish stocks.  The amount of fishing time can then be adjusted to allow for adequate harvest and not overfishing.

Fishing nets with fewer than six strands could lead to overfishing.  This could give certain fishermen an unfair advantage over other fishermen if they choose a net with greater catching power than the legal one.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada is extremely concerned with illegal 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 Observe, Record, and Report violation reporting line at-1-800-465-4336 or the local Prince Rupert DFO office at (250) 627-3089.

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For more information:

Jeanette Lam

Communications Officer

Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Region

(604) 666-2872