B.C. court levies $4K fine, year-long ban for illegal fishing
A British Columbia man was handed a $4,000 fine and a one-year fishing ban after he was caught using a gillnet to illegally catch salmon.
Cody Matthew Florence admitted to charges of unlawfully setting fishing gear, fishing without a licence and possessing illegally caught salmon, and was found guilty in a B.C. provincial courtroom last month.
The charges arose after an eyewitness photographed Florence fishing from a boat in the Fraser River near Maple Ridge in August 2022 and reported the incident to authorities at Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
Florence's fishing gear and vessel were seized by Fisheries officers pending his hearing.
Prior fishing offences
According to court records, Florence has two prior convictions for breaching the federal Fisheries Act.
The first contravention was in 2005, when Florence was convicted of selling fish caught without a commercial licence, a crime for which he served eight days in jail, followed by a year of probation and a one-year suspension of his fishing licence.
Five years later, Florence was again convicted of illegally catching and possessing fish, as well as operating a vessel without proper safety equipment. Those 2010 charges netted Florence a fine of $1,100, according to the court.
Writing in his decision on Friday, provincial court Judge Wilson Lee says there is no evidence proving how many fish Florence caught illegally in August 2022, but noted that "catching a significant number of fish would be an aggravating factor."
Crown prosecutors asked the judge to order the permanent forfeiture of Florence's vessel and fishing net, and impose a $2,000 fine, plus a three-year fishing prohibition.
"The Crown submits that the boat and gillnet were used to commit the offences and, considering Mr. Florence's record, a suitable sentence requires forfeiture of the vessel and gill net," the judge summarized.
However, Florence offered to pay a larger fine in exchange for keeping his boat, which the judge granted.
"The vessel itself can be used for purposes other than fishing, such as transportation and recreation," Lee reasoned.
"Given the circumstances of this case, including Mr. Florence's dated record and the amount of the fine I am imposing, the added forfeiture of the vessel would be unduly harsh and excessive."
The judge ordered the DFO to return the seized vessel to Florence but keep the gillnet used in the offences.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Aviation experts say Russia's air defence fire likely caused Azerbaijan plane crash as nation mourns
Aviation experts said Thursday that Russian air defence fire was likely responsible for the Azerbaijani plane crash the day before that killed 38 people and left all 29 survivors injured.
Police identify victim of Christmas Day homicide in Hintonburg, charge suspect
The Ottawa Police Service says the victim who had been killed on Christmas Day in Hintonburg has been identified.
Teen actor Hudson Meek, who appeared in 'Baby Driver,' dies after falling from moving vehicle
Hudson Meek, the 16-year-old actor who appeared in 'Baby Driver,' died last week after falling from a moving vehicle in Vestavia Hills, Alabama, according to CNN affiliate WVTM.
Pizza deliverer in Florida charged with stabbing pregnant woman at motel after tip dispute
A pizza deliverer in central Florida has been charged with pushing her way into a motel room with an accomplice and stabbing a pregnant woman after a dispute over a tip, authorities said.
Raised in Sask. after his family fled Hungary, this man spent decades spying on communists for the RCMP
As a Communist Party member in Calgary in the early 1940s, Frank Hadesbeck performed clerical work at the party office, printed leaflets and sold books.
Cat food that caused bird-flu death of Oregon pet was distributed in B.C.: officials
Pet food contaminated with bird flu – which killed a house cat in Oregon – was distributed and sold in British Columbia, according to officials south of the border.
Unwanted gift card in your stocking? Don't let it go to waste
Gift cards can be a quick and easy present for those who don't know what to buy and offer the recipient a chance to pick out something nice for themselves, but sometimes they can still miss the mark.
Sinkhole prompts lane closures on Interstate 80 in New Jersey
A sinkhole that opened up Thursday along Interstate 80 in northern New Jersey forced authorities to close the heavily travelled highway's eastbound lanes.
Boxing Day in Canada: Small retailers fear big shopping day won't make up for tough year
It’s one of the busiest shopping days of the year: Boxing Day sees thousands of people head to malls and big box stores to find great deals. But it's not so simple for smaller shops.