A 70-year-old man was fined $3,000 after being caught with five undersized Dungeness crab in a vehicle off the crab dock pier near Nanaimo's Maffeo Sutton Park. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Jordan Davidson

illegal crabbing

‘Surreptitious’ crabber catches $3,000 fine for keeping undersized crabs off Nanaimo pier

Dec 30, 2025 | 5:30 AM

NANAIMO — One man was given a large fine after being caught with undersized crabs at the Nanaimo fishing dock earlier this year.

Ronglin Zhang, 70, pleaded guilty to one count of possessing five illegally caught Dungeness crab and has six months to pay a $3,000 fine following an incident at the downtown Nanaimo waterfront in May.

During sentencing in a Nanaimo provincial court on Monday, Dec. 22, judge Tamara Hodge said harvesting undersized crabs, especially females, threatens the stability of our fisheries.

“…male Dungenous crab, they need at least a year after becoming a sexually mature male before they can be harvested, and without female crab, we don’t get any more crab…the surreptitious nature of this harvesting potentially prevents the Department of Fisheries from proper conservation measures and regulations, which again threatens that shared resource.”

Around 10 a.m. on May 8, someone phoned the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) office in Nanaimo, saying someone was taking undersized crabs from the Swy-A-Lana Lagoon Fishing Pier (Nanaimo Walking/Fishing Pier).

Shell shocked

Nanoose Bay clam harvesters dig huge fines

1h ago

climate change

'To make sure that we're adaptable' Nanaimo updating sea level rise planning

4h ago

Stuck in Mexico

'We're feeling more secure today' Nanaimo tourists stranded in Puerto Vallarta

19h ago

The caller said at least two people in a group were taking undersized crab from the dock, hiding them in their jackets and walking to a vehicle in the parking lot before returning to the dock, repeating this process multiple times.

The caller provided a description, and the DFO officer was able to spot the suspect by looking out his office window, as the Nanaimo DFO office on Front St. overlooks the crab dock.

The Swy-A-Lana Lagoon Fishing Pier (Nanaimo Walking/Fishing Pier) is commonly referred to as the crab dock, a popular spot for fishing or using traps to catch crabs. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

The officer went down to the dock and spoke with the person matching the caller’s description.

Through a translator app, the officer was able to determine the male suspect was crabbing with friends, and was able to get the man to point out the connected vehicle in the parking lot.

Inside the vehicle was Zhang, who was attempting to pull out of the parking lot when the officer arrived.

Crabbing gear was found in the back of the truck, but no crabs. The officer then noticed a wet spot on the floor of the vehicle and found five undersized Dungeness crabs, three males and two females, individually wrapped in plastic under the front seat.

The DFO officer released the crabs back into the ocean in a “partially alive state”, according to court records, and Zhang was charged with possessing illegally caught fish and making a false statement to a fisheries officer.

The latter charge was stayed after Zhang made an early guilty plea.

Through his attorney, Zhang apologized by video feed from China, and acknowledged the harm done, saying “I am very sorry”, via a translator.

Anyone with information on any illegal fishing activities is asked to call Fisheries and Oceans Canada toll-free at 1-800-465-4336 or email them at: DFO.ORR-ONS.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

We’re on Bluesky! Stay up to date on news across central Vancouver Island through Bluesky, by following @NanaimoNewsNOW.bsky.social.

info@nanaimonewsnow.com

Follow us on: Twitter (X) | Bluesky | Facebook