Survivalist who posted videos of illegal Banff fishing handed $6,000 fine

A B.C. man who filmed a survival challenge in the Rocky Mountains has been fined $6,000 for illegally catching eight cutthroat trout in Banff National Park.

Greg Ovens, 60, and fellow survivalist Zachary Fowlerfilmed a 30-day survival challenge, posting a series of videos to YouTube in July 2019.

Ovens originally faced six charges but five were withdrawn after he pleaded guilty to illegal fishing under the Canada National Parks Act.

• Survivalist due in court over fishing, hunting offences in 2019 YouTube series filmed in Banff

Ovens and Fowler met after appearing in Season 3 of the History Channel'sAlone in 2016.

In Season 3 of Alone, Ovens survived 51 days in Patagonia while Fowler, an American from Maine, emerged after 87 days and was crowned the winner.

Ovens must post new video to YouTube

The pair decided to work together on a new survival challenge they could post on YouTube.

On Wednesday, Justice Eric Tolppanen handed Ovens a $6,000 fine and ordered he post details of his plea and sentence to YouTube.

Prosecutor Dan Brunnen had proposed an $8,000 fine $1,000 per fish while Ovens' lawyer Greg Dunn asked the judge to consider a $4,000 penalty.

In handingdown his decision, Tolppanen said he did not find Ovens committed the offence intentionallyor contemptuously but did find the conduct to be "reckless."

Fowler wanted on warrants

The Calgary judge said that since thecharge was laid, Ovens hastried to have videos removed, which "demonstrates acceptance of his responsibility."

Ovens previously told CBC News he and Fowlerspent most of the challenge living off provincial Crown land near his home in Canal Flats, B.C.

Later in the 30-day challenge, the two fished at LemanLake in Banff National Park.

Ovens said both he and Fowler obtained fishing licences but didn't realize that the mountain lakes in Banff, Yoho and Kootenaynational parks had switched to catch and release a few years ago because of concerns aboutwhirling disease.

Fowler is still wanted in Alberta on warrants.