Professional Haida Gwaii fishing guide fined $12K for lying and fishing in excess

According to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), a professional fishing guide from Haida Gwaii has been served a hefty fine for false statements and excessive fishing. 

On March 5th, Daajing Giids Provincial Court found the fishing guide, Jean-Marc Cyr, guilty of providing false documents, making a false or misleading statement to a fishery officer, and possessing fish in excess of legal limits. 

Cyr was fined a total of $12,000 for his offences. 

According to DFO officers, this fine resulted from two separate inspections that were conducted over a two-week period in 2023. 

In July 2023, fishery officers inspected Cyr’s catch and determined he had reached the annual limit for Chinook salmon on his fishing licence and that he had also recorded catching seven halibut. 

Then, during a subsequent inspection in August 2023, the fishing guide’s fishing licence had different information. 

“When officers questioned the discrepancy, the guide admitted that the licence presented during the second inspection was a reprinted copy,” wrote DFO in a media release. 

An ensuing investigation then determined that Cyr was in possession of one Chinook salmon and one halibut in excess of the authorized limits.

Recreational fishers in the Pacific region are only permitted to catch 10 Chinook salmon and 10 halibut each season. 

Further, it was determined that he had knowingly presented false documentation and made a misleading statement to fishery officers.

DFO says that accurate reporting of fish catch is vital for sustainable stock management and supporting conservation measures. 

Under Canada’s Fisheries Act, it is illegal for any person to make a false or misleading statement to a fishery officer and failing to follow the rules can lead to serious consequences, such as jail time or fines. 

In addition to his fine, Cyr must provide an up‑to‑date copy of his fishing licence, including all catch information recorded, to the Daajing Giids Fisheries and Oceans Canada Detachment every month until the end of 2027.