This case involved a fishing vessel operator who was also an elected representative of a crab fishermen committee. Trip limits were imposed in the conditions of the crab fishing licences at the request of fish processors. For a number of years the limits had not been enforced. Prior to the fishing season in question, the accused attended a meeting with …
Full SummaryPilfold Estate v. v. R, 2014 FCA 97
This case involved an exemption claimed by a roe-on-kelp and herring roe fisher who was a status Indian from the Musqueam First Nation. After applying the connecting factors test, the court did not allow the exemption that company minute books were kept on the reserve. Some of these factors included: "The fishing boat and fishing equipment were kept off reserve. …
Full SummaryR v. v. Steer, 2013 BCPC 163
This is a fairly lengthy decision involving a large number of counts of allegations of intentional illegal fishing. The accused was convicted of all but two of the counts primarily on the basis of texts taken from a cell phone in his possession at the time of arrest.
Full SummaryR v. Langan, 2013 SKQB 256
Malcolm v. Canada (Minister of Fisheries), 2014 FCA 130
This case involved a representative proceeding brought by the applicant on behalf of all commercial halibut licence holders in British Columbia. The applicant sought judicial review of a decision of the Minister of Fisheries changing the allocation of the total allowable catch (“TAC”) of halibut between the commercial sector and the recreational sector from 88% (commercial)/12% (recreational) to 85%/15%. In …
Full SummaryK'omok First Nation v. Canada (A.G.), 2012 FC 1160
This cased involved a challenge by the K’omoks First Nation (“FN”) with respect to the granting of four aqua-culture licences issued to non-members of the FN in its claimed traditional territory in 2010 shortly after the Federal Government took over jurisdiction for regulating aqua-culture following the Morton decision. It also involved a challenge to the Minister of renewal of these …
Full SummaryKwicksutaineuk Ah-kw A-mish First Nation v. Canada (A.G.) et al., 2012 FC 517
This was an application for judicial review that was a direct consequence of the Morton decision that held the provincial regulatory regime over fin fish aquaculture was constitutionally invalid. As a result of this decision, the federal government was given one year to consider and put into place a regulatory regime over aquaculture in B.C. This meant approximately 680 provincial …
Full SummaryR v. v. Crane
This case involved four charges including a charge of possession of undersized lobster. The issue in this case was whether the Department of Fisheries (DFO) breached the accused’s charter rights by failing to provide the accused with an adequate photographic record of the measuring of the undersized lobster that were returned to the sea after being measured. In concluding that …
R v. Arbuckle, 2013 NSSC 2
This case involved a charge under s. 44 of the Atlantic Fisheries Regulations for possession of undersize herring that was incidental catch. S. 44 of the Atlantic Fishery Regulations provided: 44. (1) Subject to subsections (2) and (4), no person shall fish for, buy, sell or have in his possession any herring that is less than 26.5 cm in length. …
Full SummaryTremblett v. Tremblett, 2012 CanLII 67443
This case involved two brothers who fished together in Newfoundland for a period of 17 years. Initially they fished for groundfish and borrowed money together to purchase a vessel that they jointly owned. When government policy would not allow a partnership to hold a fishing licence, a valuable crab licence was put solely in the name of one brother. Upon …
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