Sam Lam and Hieu Tran were fined a combined $7,000 for fishery violations late last June in Nanoose Bay. (The Canadian Press)

By Ian Holmes

notable fines

Couple fined thousands for illegally harvesting shellfish in Nanoose Bay

Apr 1, 2024 | 9:57 AM

NANAIMO — Over-fishing and lying about it was costly for a couple following an outing to a Nanoose Bay beach.

Sam Lam and his wife Hieu Tran each pleaded guilty to retaining oysters and clams above the daily limit in relation to a trip to a Nanoose Bay beach just north of Lantzville on June 30, 2023.

Lam also entered a guilty plea to misleading a fishery officer, who witnessed Lam attempting to conceal a sack full of oysters in a wooded area off a trail between the beach and Hwy. 19.

During a recent sentencing hearing in provincial court in Nanaimo, Crown prosecutor Ian McFadgen outlined how Lam told the fishery officer he’d tossed the oysters aside because his wife had not counted them.

Lam quickly owned up to his brief act of deception.

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A combined 54 oysters and 140 clams were amassed by the couple.

The individual daily limit is 12 oysters and 60 clams.

Lam was handed a heftier $5,000 fine for attempting to mislead the fishery officer, while Tran was fined $2,000.

They have two years to pay up and were each issued one year fishing bans.

McFadgen said maintaining limits are required to protect the resource ensure sustainability for all people involved in the fishery.

“Even though it’s a recreational fishery, the fines are typically in the thousands of dollars…The fines need to be high enough that it is not worth the risk,” he said.

A Cambodian translator assisted the offenders while appearing in court.

A license is required to legally participate in the recreational shellfish fishery in the province.

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes