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[IronNoggin]

A Washington couple and two accomplices were caught by DFO attempting to leave Canada with an illegal amount of prawns. These THEIVES are known "long-time" residents of China Creek Marina, and it can be assumed that the prawns were removed from the Alberni Inlet.

Acting on a tip from someone in the campground, the two vehicles (travelling seperately) were pulled out of line at the Duke Point Ferry Terminal. Search results by DFO Officers included over 3,200 prawns between the two vehicles. Each party had a letter from the other, indicating they had been given permission to transport the other's legal catch back to the US. But even with the bogus letters, they were well over the legal possession limits (400 per licence). It is obvious they were working together, and in complete awareness of the illegal nature of their actions.

Further investigation of their still standing campsite revealed more than an individual daily limit still in the on-site freezer.

Each bag of prawns had been graded and labelled with date and graded size, leading investigators to believe the product was headed for the US Black Market.
Dean & Wanda Leenhouts, Martin Sheely and Gerda Gustin (all of Washington State) recieved $ 1000.00 fines, and investigators have indicated they will seek further charges on the Leenhouts upon their return to Canada (DFO seeking a prohibition order not to be onboard a fishing vessel or engage in sportfishing in Canada for a minimum of one year, with related Licence suspensions).

KUDOS on the Department for their actions in this matter! Our resources are precious! Poachers are nothing but theives that steal from us all! If your intent is to conduct yourself in this fashion while on our waters, stay home, you simply ain't welcome!

Source: Alberni Valley Times, front page story, Wednesday July 6, by Niomi Hammett

Cheers,
Nog

[oddjob]

the finds should be steeper than that, so others will think twice before breaking canadian laws on quotas. that was only a gentle slap in there wallets .

[BwiBwi]

Yeh, Way to go DFO officers 
And who ever tiped DFO, thank you for the help 

[Fish Assassin]

$1,000 fine is a joke. Do you really think they will return to Canada to face additional charges ? At the minimum their vehicle should have been confiscated.

[blueback]

I agree with FA. I'm glad to see they got caught! Good on ya DFO enforcement; the enforcement levels however are still laughable. I wonder how many bags of prawns and other seafood they stole before getting caught?

[rerigger]

did they get their boat??

[Rodney]

Make them eat a few kg of sealice, that will get them to think twice next time.

[FISHIN MAGICIAN]

It is individuals like this that need to be made an example of..and held to account by the courts, the people of Canada. If this were Europe, I can assure you that the fines would have been much larger.

It is these people that are to blame for the destruction of our fisheries.

[No_way]

The issue is really about enforcement, not punishment.  If people don't think they will get caught they will do it.  Rather than increasing the fines, we should focus on catching these people in the first place.  If they don't get caught, the fines are irrelevant.  The damage to the fisheries is not caused by the the few people that get caught, but by the hundreds/thousands of offenders that don't