YELLOWKNIFE, NORTHWEST TERRITORIES–(Marketwire – Aug. 9, 2012) – Brian Abbott, owner and operator of Great Slave Fish Products Limited, pleaded guilty in Yellowknife Territorial Court on July 9, 2012 to four violations of regulations made pursuant to the Fisheries Act. He was sentenced to pay $6,000 by Her Worship Judge Bernadette E. Schmaltz on August 8, 2012.

The violations included failing to register his commercial vessel, fishing in an area closed to commercial fishing, one count of failing to comply with a licence condition and leaving gear set unattended without being marked with a vessel registration number or the name of the owner.

The offences occurred in Great Slave Lake near the city of Yellowknife.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada launched an investigation following a compliance check conducted on July 27, 2011, during which Mr. Abbott failed to produce a commercial fishing logbook, commercial fishing licence and his commercial fishing vessel registration.

With assistance from the Canadian Wildlife Service and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Fisheries and Oceans Canada Fishery Officers conducted searches of the commercial vessel the Seabird, the Fish Truck store front and his Jolliffe Island fish plant, seizing over 1,500 kilograms of fish and several documents.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada is committed to the conservation and protection of northern fish stocks and fish habitat through public awareness, regulations, partnerships and, where necessary, enforcement action.

FOR BROADCAST:

Brian Abbott, owner and operator of Great Slave Fish Products Limited, was fined $6,000 after pleading guilty in Yellowknife Territorial Court to four violations of the Fisheries Act including failing to register his commercial vessel, fishing in an area closed to commercial fishing, one count of failing to comply with a licence condition and leaving gear set unattended without being marked with a vessel registration number or the name of the owner. The charges were laid after Fishery Officers with Fisheries and Oceans Canada searched his fish plant, commercial fishing vessel and store front, seizing over 1,500kg of illegally harvested fish.