It is found that the Lunar Fishing (Canada) 2005 Inc. has knowingly put to sea without sufficient, Canadian-qualified crew and was thus charged with hefty sum as fine. The company was pleaded guilty to two counts of violating the Marine Personnel Regulations, which fall under the Canada Shipping Act, September 10 in Bridgewater provincial court.
It is told that the charges relate to the Julianne III, the company’s state-of-the-art mid-water trawler which fished out of Lunenburg between late 2005 and early this year. The controversy started when the 125-foot trawler was initially touted as a way to revive the pelagic fishing industry. However, instead of sticking with mackerel, Lunar Fishing was also given a quota to fish offshore for herring, angering inshore purse-seiner fishermen. In court federal prosecutor Josh Bryson explained the charges were laid in mid-July. Two senior marine inspectors visited the Julianne III at a Yarmouth wharf July 11, asking to see the crew’s certificates.
Despite all these the vessel set sail for Lunenburg later that day without a qualified engineer or first mate. Bryosn told that the vessel breached the regulations intentionally and it is not up to individuals to decide whether or not to comply with the regulations. Company lawyer Victor Goldberg assured Judge Anne Crawford said that safety was at no time compromised.
There was a competent Scottish crew on board, he said. It is told that the Canadian crew had quit and Lunar Fishing was unable to find a certified Canadian crew. There were issues at the Yarmouth wharf and the trawler couldn’t stay there, so the captain put to sea, explained Goldberg.
