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[HKSR]

Yikes, looks like Nile Creek Fly Shop may be in a bit of trouble:

http://www.bclocalnews.com/news/328555421.html

[ShaunO]

Having looked up the potential fines for this, I think "trouble" is a wee bit optimistic!

[ShaunO]

Fresh off of the Conservation Services Facebook feed:

"CONVICTED
$10,000 in fines
A Vancouver Island man was recently convicted of illegal guiding in Port Alberni Provincial Court.
The conviction follows a COS investigation, which began in January 2015, into allegations that the male was guiding for fish without holding an angling guide licence.
Between Sept. 2013 and May 2015, Courtney Ogilvie guided clients for fish on the Nahmint River near Port Alberni.
Ogilvie plead guilty to one count of guide for fish without an angling guide licence under the BC Wildlife Act. Upon conviction he was ordered to pay a fine of $10,000.
Report poaching and other environmental violations 24/7 to the COS hotline - 1-877-952-7277 (RAPP)."

Sucks to be that guy, but I really don't have any sympathy for him at all. 

[NothingToSnagAbout]

How much would the licence have been?

[ShaunO]

$500 a year or $2000 for 5 year license ($400/year)

I don't think he gets a 20 year membership with his $10K fine thought... hehehe

http://www.frontcounterbc.gov.bc.ca/guides/fish-wildlife/guide-outfitter/fees/

[Every Day]

Hefty fine my arse....

He's a repeat offender - he has also been ticketed for illegally guiding in Strathcona park on the Elk river (Van Island) as well. 10 grand is nothing. He should have got $50,000++ and jail time, or community service IMO. He guided illegally for 2 years, accepting cash only. How much money was robbed from legitimate guides, from conservation groups (through license sales - which there were none). How much money did he pocket instead of doing income tax. Think he had insurance? Think he asked clients if they had proper licensing?

He took advantage of the system, full well knowing that he could go without being caught for a long time. An example should have been made of him, and it wasn't. Now you'll have people thinking - over those 2 years it would have cost him $1000 in licensing, and a bunch more in insurance to run a legitimate business. He would have also had to stick to certain rivers - not whatever ones he wanted (would have made it more difficult to catch fish/hurt business).

So really, he got "fined" $9000. How much extra did he pocket doing it under the table? This is hardly a penalty, and won't stop any one else from doing it. My only hope is that this severely tarnishes both his reputation and his shop's reputation. I hope it costs him a bunch of money in the long run.

[RalphH]

well maybe. "Hefty fines" and penalties really don't do anything to deter criminal activity. I'd bet there was some bargaining. The fine was perhaps not as high as could have been since he plead guilty and didn't clutter up the chronically over crowded courts. Judges also don't like destroying peoples lives particularly over offensives that society at large don't regard as serious as armed robbery or manslaughter. His reputation as been pretty much destroyed. Hopefully he is unable to run his business and has to close or sell. I'd be shocked if any major tackle makers or distributors continue to do business with him.

[halcyonguitars]

EveryDay...

Guides are restricted as to where they can guide?

[Rodney]

Guides are restricted as to where they can guide?

Correct. Your guiding licence allows you to guide on specific waterbodies.

[halcyonguitars]

Interesting, thanks!

[Tangles]

While the fine may not be much for that particular offender, I do hope it helps to deter the smaller scale beek wannabes from trying to run illigal business. I know of a one character that "guides" illigally several times per season, mostly Vedder. Fortunately he's an absolute joke of a fisherman and don't have to be taken too seriously. Yes, he frequents this forum a lot so I'm sure he reads this - I'm looking out for you T! I'm sure there's a few more clowns out there that would love to play "guiding" too, hopefully more busts will keep them in check!

[greyghost]

Well said Tangles! Cheers!

[firstlight]

Now they just have to go after all the so called assistant guides who guide .
Biggest joke in the industry.
Or the people  guiding Sturgeon on the lower Fraser below Mission because they don't need a licence there which is B.S.
If anyone goes out with a so called unlicenced guide then they should be charged too.
There is no shortage of real qualified guides out there folks and they have insurance as well as training if anything were to go wrong.

[RalphH]

Correct. Your guiding licence allows you to guide on specific waterbodies.

BC has very restricted guiding regulations. In some states all a person needs to do is buy a guiding license and the can guide where they want.They don't need a water rescue certificate or to have CPR certification. They don't even need to carry liability insurance. Idon't know about the rest of Canada these days but a few decades ago angling guides in NFLD were famous for boozin' & snoozin' while the client was fishing. 

[clarkii]

You don't just need a guiding license but need to buy days for a given river.  These days are limited and as such help restrict pressure on the system (in other words I can't just guide as many days I want on a system if I get a guide license).

Just a note i'm not an expert just a buddy guides in the Kootenays.