More enforcement coming to Sunshine Coast as region deals with complaints of illegal shellfish harvesting

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is sending another enforcement officer to its Sunshine Coast base after members of the publicflooded the department withcomplaintsaboutillegal shellfish harvesting in the area.

It's a problem the region sees every summer, but officials and locals alike say this year has been particularly bad.

Mary Jackson, who's lived in HalfmoonBay for nearly 30 years, said "the whole coast is outraged."

"We have to put a stop to it," Jacksonsaid. "There won't be anything left."

The DFO has one field office responsible for overseeing the Sunshine Coast, located in Powell River. There are currently two officers stationed there, but the department is now assigning a third.

The problem

lllegal harvesting happens when licensed fishermen either taketoo much shellfish, harvestin closed areas or useillegal gear. Others are simply unlicensed fisherman picking throughthe beach. DFOsays harvesters are taking oysters and clams.

"Essentially, the Sunshine Coast gets hit with an influx of tourists to the area and a lot of those tourists take it upon themselves to harvest while they're here as part of their vacation," saidBenRahier, acting field supervisor for theDFO'sPowell River field office.

"There could be 10, 20, 30, 40 folks in a group," he said.

Jackson, 54, said she's heard ofharvestersbringingfive-gallon buckets to fill with shellfish, or sneaking to the beach withhead lampsat night.

Facebook group

This year, locals createda Facebook group to record and report suspected violations they see in their area. It had more than 800 new members in its first few days.

Rahiersaid he supports locals keeping an eye out for illegal fishing,but encourages people to report what they see directly to the fisheries department.

He saidthe public shouldn'tconfrontharvesters for any reason.

"The last thing I want to seeis someone trying to do the right thing and putting themselves in a potentially dangerous situation or opening themselves up to liability, confronting these individuals when they don't have the authority to do so,"Rahiersaid.

Enforcement

In March, Pamela Goldsmith-Jones MP for the Sunshine Coastwrote a letter to the federal minister of fisheries and oceans saying illegal harvesting was going "undetected"due to limited resources.

Rahiersaida third officer is being being sent in Powell River on a permanent basis in coming weeks.

"A big reason for that is because of the quantity of complaints we're receiving from the public," he said.

Rahier also said the Powell River office is supported by teams in Steveston and the Lower Mainland, issuing $14,000 worth of fines in a weekend "blitz" late last month.

Anyone who thinks they can see someone fishing illegally is asked to phone Fisheries and Oceans Canada's toll-free line at1-800-465-4336.

Details on information to include in a report can be found here.

Additional resources

Dangers of illegal harvesting - Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Shellfish harvesting and safety - Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Shellfish harvesting closures map - B.C. Centre for Disease Control

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