270 illegal crab traps seized from Boundary Bay, federal officials say
More than 900 crabs were freed from illegal traps in Boundary Bay last week, according to federal officials.
Between Jan. 23 and Jan 27, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard conducted a "ghost fishing" operation near White Rock.
"To counter suspected illegal fishing, fishery officers conduct dragging operations several times a year to retrieve lost, abandoned or illegally set gear that are out of compliance," a spokesperson for the DFO said in an email.
"These traps can also become buried in the mud over time, making them more difficult to retrieve."
In all, 270 traps were found. The statement from the DFO says more than half of them were sealed shut, which is specifically prohibited by regulations.
"Illegal traps are disposed of by destruction or, if there is value, they are sold through government auction," the DFO spokesperson noted.
Seven hundred and eighty-eight Dungeness crabs and 119 red rock crabs were returned to the water. According to the DFO's website, it is illegal to possess these types of crustacean if they are female.
An investigation is under way to try to identify who set the traps and "charges may follow," the emailed statement says.
Federal officials urge anyone who suspects illegal fishing activity to report it by calling 1-800-465-4336.
Correction
This sotry was updated to clarify that only the possession of female Dungeness or red rock crabs is illegal.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
Full parole granted to man convicted in notorious 'McDonald's murders' in Cape Breton
The Parole Board of Canada has granted full parole to one of three men convicted in the brutal murders of three McDonald's restaurant workers in Cape Breton more than 30 years ago.
Incident on Calgary's Reconciliation Bridge comes to safe resolution
Nearly 20 hours after a man climbed and remained perched on top of the Reconciliation Bridge in downtown Calgary, the situation came to a peaceful resolution.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.