Readers are urged to consult CanLii for updates to the cases digested on this site.

R. v. Dawe, 2019 CanLii (N.L. Prov. Ct.)

In Miscellaneous on

This case involved a fishing vessel that was purse seining for capelin.  In this fishery, the most common method of estimating the weight of one’s catch is to use baffle boards.  On the day in question, the accused’s vessel was using this method. The seine net was off the starboard side of the vessel and the captain was using a …

R v. McNeill Fishing Ltd.

In Fish Cases, Fisheries Practice, Miscellaneous, Offences on (Updated )

Section 71(2) of the Fisheries Act provides that “. . . a court may order any . . . thing seized under this Act to be returned to the person from whom it was seized if security is given to Her Majesty in a form and amount satisfactory to the Minister.” In this case, the owner of two seized prawn …

Gavin v. R, 2017 PESC 6

In Fish Cases, Miscellaneous, Offences on (Updated )

This case involved a charge of fishing for lobster in a closed area. The accused’s fishing vessel was observed by a surveillance aircraft using (1) a state of the art camera, (2) a very high-powered telescope, (3) a software program that enhanced the live video, (4) radar assisted/integrated info software, (5) forward looking infrared radar, and (6) a 6,000,000 candlepower …

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R v. McKinnell Fishing Ltd., 2016 BCCA 472

In Fish Cases, Miscellaneous, Offences on (Updated )

This case was summarized by the Court of Appeal as follows: "The appellant crabbing company was found guilty of “fishing for” crabs in closed waters, contrary to the Fisheries Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F 14. It argues that the phrase “fishing for” in s. 2 of the Fisheries Act does not include the act of raising crab traps from the …

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R v. Strickland, 2016 CanLII 2781 (NL PC)

In Due Diligence, Fish Cases, Miscellaneous, Offences, Search and Seizure on (Updated )

This case involved a fisheries officer and two fisheries guardians who were conducting a patrol in a Zodiac when they observed the accused in his dory. Although they were some distance away, they thought they observed him fishing. The fisheries officer motioned for the accused to come over to the fishing vessel, but instead the accused drove his dory on …

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R v. Echodh, 2015 SKPC 76

In Fish Cases, Miscellaneous, Offences on (Updated )

This case involved a fish harvester commercial ice fishing in Saskatchewan. He took the most profitable fish (walleye) to market but left the less profitable fish (whitefish and pike) on the ice mixed in with fish offal. After rejecting much of the evidence presented by the accused, the court convicted him under s. 92(C) of the Fisheries Regulations of wasting …

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R v. Dempsey, 2015 NUCJ 15

In Fish Cases, Miscellaneous, Offences on (Updated )

This case involved a fishing vessel that was observed by a Fisheries Officer in a plane to have fishing gear in a closed area. The fisheries officer conducted an interview of the captain of the fishing vessel by radio. The accused captain attempted to exclude the evidence at trial on sections 7 and 10 of the Charter. The court rejected …

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R v. Ai, 2014 BCSC 1350

In Fish Cases, Miscellaneous, Offences on (Updated )

In this case, a provincial court judge quashed a ticket information on the grounds that s. 79.7(2) of the Fisheries Act requires both the summons and the information portion of the ticket comply with all of the s. 79.7(2) requirements. In doing so, the provincial court judge found that there was an ambiguity in the wording of s. 79.7(2) and …

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