A Canadian court has fined a Vancouver Island resident CAD 60,000 (USD 43,898; EUR 38,234) for damaging fish habitat along the Trent River,
“Under Canada's Fisheries Act, measures must be taken to avoid causing the death of fish and any harmful alteration, disruption or destruction of fish habitat when conducting any work or activities in or near water,” Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Canada said in a press release. “There are serious consequences for non-compliance with the fish and fish habitat protection provisions of the Fisheries Act.”
According to DFO, Tingley spent multiple years making changes to the riverbank of the Trent River, which bisects one of his properties. Because the Trent River is “an important fish bearing watercourse,” Tingley was required to seek government authorization for any work near or in the water that could harm or disrupt fish habitat. Tingley did not receive any approval before carrying out his landscaping projects.
“Fishery officers work closely with biologists from DFO's Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program to ensure any work undertaken near water complies with the fish and fish habitat protection provisions of the Fisheries Act,” DFO said.
In May 2020, the government ordered Tingley to undo the illegal landscaping within 30 days, however, Tingley did not comply.
In January 2025, Courtenay Provincial Court in British Columbia, Canada, found Tingley guilty and fined him CAD 60,000. The money will be deposited in the Environmental Damages Fund, which supports salmon conservation and habitat protection in the Vancouver Island region.
