Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) today announced a sentence imposed on a fish harvester for violating the snow crab fishery regulations.
Mr. Derek Sock of Eskasoni, N.S., pleaded guilty in Port Hood Provincial Court on January 23, 2009, to fishing snow crab in an unauthorized area. Under a license issued to Elsipogtog First Nation in New Brunswick, Mr. Sock was licensed to fish snow crab in Crab Fishing Area (CFA) 12. He did set his crab traps inside a closed portion of CFA 12 and inside CFA 19.
Fishery officers from the Cheticamp detachment laid charges against him under Section 7 of the Aboriginal Communal Fishing Licenses Regulations.
Provincial Court Judge Laurel Halfpenny MacQuarrie imposed a $4,000 fine for his illegal snow crab fishing activity.
DFO is committed to the conservation and protection of aquatic resources in Canadian waters, including the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence. Anyone wishing to report a suspicious fishing activity should contact the nearest DFO office.
