Ken Hsien Lin was fined $4,000 after five undersized Chinook salmon were found in a boat he was operating on Jan. 25, 2023 (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

illegal fishing

Several illegally caught salmon near Nanaimo results in $4K fine

Jun 12, 2023 | 5:28 AM

NANAIMO — A fishing outing with friends was a costly one for a man who took responsibility for breaking a pair of federal fisheries regulations.

Ken Hsien Lin was operating a boat on Jan. 25, 2023, off Valdes Island south of Gabriola Island when a federal fisheries vessel conducting compliance checks stopped by.

“Mr. Lin was guiding a group of people on board and he took responsibility as a captain for the five under-sized salmon,” the federal Crown’s Jenny Rutherford told a sentencing hearing last week in Nanaimo.

Lin pleaded guilty to catching the five Chinooks, all of which were too small to be obtained.

In addition to reeling in the illegal salmon, Lin was charged with possessing the catch.

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Described as an aspiring fishing guide, Lin clarified he was fishing with friends during the offence and not doing so commercially at the time.

He was fined $4,000, has two years to pay and forfeited his catch, an agreed statement of facts read into the record heard.

Lin was up-front about his offending and pleaded guilty early on, prompting the Crown to reduce the fine by $1,000.

“It was my mistake, I didn’t read the rules thoroughly, therefore I took misinformation to them,” Lin told the court.

DFO asks anyone with information on any illegal fishing activities to call them toll-free at 1-800-465-4336, or email them at: DFO.ORR-ONS.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes