Cortes Island
Rivers & Oceans

DFO Bust: Over 1,000 oysters harvested illegally on Cortes Island

The DFO has recovered over 1000 oysters that were harvested illegally on Cortes Island. 

BC Ferries dock at Campbell River – Roy L Hales photo

More than 1,000 Oysters

On October 29th, based on information received from the public on Cortes Island, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (also known as Fisheries and Oceans Canada, or DFO) stopped and inspected two vehicles as they disembarked from the BC Ferry in Campbell River.

The DFO enforcement officers found more than 1000 oysters in one of the vehicles.  The person in possession of the oysters had a recreational fishing licence, which limits oyster possession to 24 per person ( the daily harvest limit is 12). 

The fines

The person was fined the maximum for such an infraction — $1200. 

The other driver who was investigated, admitted to having been part of the harvest, despite not having any oysters in his possession.  And since he didn’t have a recreational fishing licence, they were fined for fishing without a licence, which carries a fine of $100.

Fishery Officer, Greg Askey, was contacted by Cortes Currents.  He said that, had this been an illegal commercial harvest, the fines would have been much more.  Commercial infractions can get $100,000 fine and/or 5 years in prison. 

Box of oysters by pangeashellfish via Flickr (CC BY SA, 2.0 License)

Individuals from the Lower Mainland

Askey said that the two individuals were from the lower mainland, and had been staying on Cortes.  

According to Askey, enforcement actions in an area can lead to increased observation of that area, and consequently, more enforcement.  He reminds shellfish harvesters to get a licence, and know the limits. 

Askey said that there is no mechanism for recreational fishers to harvest a larger amount for storage or preservation, or for sharing with a large family or community. 

Returned to the sea

The confiscated oysters were returned to the sea, but to an area that is permanently closed to harvesting — because the DFO doesn’t know how the oysters were treated, they can’t go back to places where people may harvest them again, and potentially get ill.  Conveniently, all the shoreline around Campbell river is permanently closed due to contamination concerns. 

Links of Interest

Top photo credit: Looking across Sutil Channel to Marina and Cortes Islands by Dale Simonson via Flickr (CC BY SA, 2.0 License)

This program was funded by a grant from the Community Radio Fund of Canada and the Government of Canada’s Local Journalism Initiative.