A man who was caught fishing near Port Hardy without a license was issued a fine for $15,000 by the Provincial Court of British Columbia.
Though this fine may seem hefty, the Crown sought a fine of $60,000 for the fisherman.
Douglas Alan Kostering was caught fishing without a license in late April of 2023, and was caught selling the halibut and lingcod he had unlawfully removed from the ocean
Kostering was found to have removed 1,886 pounds of halibut.
Though Judge Alexander Wolf considered jail time, various restorative justice measures and the full fine of $60,000, he concluded that the reduced fine would be appropriate.
Kostering has three years to pay the $15,000.
