Spawning Chinook Salmon (Photo 48409788 © Justinhoffmanoutdoors | Dreamstime.com)

By Kevin Rothwell

Five year angling ban

North Okanagan man reels in second illegal fishing penalty

Mar 2, 2021 | 12:40 PM

A North Okanagan man with a history of illegal salmon fishing in the Shuswap River has been has been ordered to pay a $1,500 fine, forfeit his fishing equipment, and issued a further five year fishing prohibition.

Frederick Stanley Kent of Ashton Creek was found guilty in Salmon Arm Provincial Court for fishing while prohibited by a court order. Justice George Leven also found Kent guilty of unlawful possession of fish, according to a news release from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

The judge stated that protection of these fragile fish stocks is important in ensuring survival of the species, and it is the hope that the sentencing for the case will serve as a deterrent to others who consider abusing this resource.

In August 27, 2019, DFO fishery officers observed Kent fishing in the Shuswap River from a bridge near Grindrod, B.C. The officers were aware that Kent was under a court-ordered prohibition at the time. He was issued an appearance notice to attend court, and his rod and gear were seized.

Kent, 60, received his first five-year fishing ban and $4,550 in fines on June 9, 2015, when he pled guilty to 13 of 15 charges of illegal fishing activities on the Shuswap River near Enderby.

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Those violations occurred in August and September of 2014 and included: foul-hooking fish; illegal possession; making a false or misleading statement to a fishery officer; molesting fish; exceeding the monthly quota for adult Chinook salmon, and failing to record his catch.

Kent will be prohibited from fishing until Dec. 21, 2025.

Illegal fishing activity resulted in the province and Fisheries and Oceans Canada to closing all fishing opportunities 50 m upstream and downstream from the Trinity Valley Road Bridge from June 15 to Nov. 15 every year.

The Lower Shuswap River is only open to the Chinook harvest for four weeks per year, and strict quotas are in place to ensure survivability of the sensitive Fraser Chinook that migrate here from the Pacific Ocean to spawn.

Anyone with information on illegal fishing can call the toll-free violation reporting line at 1-800-465-4336, or email the details to DFO.ORR-ONS.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.