The Nanaimo Provincial Court fined the vessel master of a commercial prawn-fishing vessel CAD 30,000 (USD 21,039, EUR 18,790) for multiple violations of Canada’s commercial fishing regulations.
The fine stems from a 2023 incident when a commercial fishing vessel reported that their gear had become entangled in suspicious gear belonging to someone else. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) responded to the report and found the fishing gear included a buoy, rope, and weight but no traps. They determined that the gear was a “dummy float” meant to save the fisher’s position in the fishing grounds for later.
DFO’s investigation into the owner of that gear, Dean Keitsch, revealed he had violated Canada’s VMS regulations multiple times in May.
The Nanaimo Provincial Court convicted Keitsch of failing to comply with the terms and conditions of his commercial prawn fishing license, fined him CAD 30,000, and ordered for his fishing gear to be seized.
“DFO fishery officers play a critical role in protecting Canada's fisheries through enforcement, education, monitoring, and compliance activities,” DFO said in announcing the sentencing. “DFO is committed to protecting and conserving marine resources and enforcing the Fisheries Act.”
In 2024, Keitsch was fined CAD 250,000 (USD 175,325, EUR 156,584) for setting traps in protected areas closed to commercial prawn harvesting. At the time, DFO seized 553 commercial prawn traps and 450 pounds of live prawns.
