N.S. man pleads guilty to multiple charges under Fisheries Act

A Nova Scotia man has pleaded guilty to multiple charges under Canada’s Fisheries Act.

Zackery Hubley of Tantallon, N.S., pleaded guilty to two violations of the Fishery General Regulations and a third violation of the Atlantic Fishery Regulations.

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In a release, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) says investigations into Hubley took place over several months.

The department says fishery officers saw Hubley fishing illegally up to seven miles over the line into Lobster Fishing Area 41 twice from March 25 to April 13.

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According to a press release, fishery officers located, hauled and seized 258 lobster traps, lines and buoys that Hubley had used to fish illegally from April 14-18.

DFO says Hubley violated the ’72-hour rule’ by leaving fishing gear unattended from January 6 to April 14.

On the morning of April 13, Hubley was arrested by fishery officers on his boat in Indian Harbour, N.S.

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Hubley had charges filed against him on June 21. The judge imposed the following penalties following his guilty plea:

• Fishing lobster outside of Lobster Fishing Area 33 – $6,000
• Fishing more than a maximum of 250 lobster traps as stated in licence conditions – $2,000
• Leaving lobster fishing gear unattended for more than 72 consecutive hours – $1,500
• Ordered forfeiture of the seized lobster – $5,984
• Ordered forfeiture of the eight illegal lobster traps

According to the DFO, inshore commercial lobster harvesters are only permitted to fish in the Lobster Fishing Area on their licence.