Haida Gwaii fishing guide fined $12,000 for catching too many fish, providing false documents

A British Columbia fishing guide is facing a $12,000 fine for exceeding catch limits and providing false documents to fishery officers.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada said Thursday the case stems from two inspections by fishery officers in July and August 2023, while Jean-Marc Cyr was leading fishing trips on Haida Gwaii.

The department said that during the first inspection, fishery officers found Cyr had reached the annual limit for chinook salmon and had also recorded catching seven halibut. During the second inspection, Cyr presented officers with a fishing licence that had different information and later admitted it was a reprinted copy.

Recreational fishers in the Pacific Region are allowed to catch 10 Chinook salmon and 10 halibut each season.

Officers found he had one Chinook salmon and one halibut more than the authorized limits.

Cyr was convicted under the Fisheries Act of providing false documents, making a false or misleading statement to a fishery officer, and possessing fish in excess of legal limits.

The court also ordered him to provide an up‑to‑date copy of his fishing licence and catch record to the Daajing Giids Fisheries and Oceans Canada detachment each month in which he guides in fishing activities, though the end of 2027.

“This case underscores the responsibility of professional fishing guides to maintain high compliance standards, especially when working with clients who may not be familiar with federal and provincial fishing regulations,” the department said in a statement.