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Fisheries Canada Convicts Four Over Illegal Shellfish Harvesting in Deep Bay
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) announced that four people were convicted for illegally harvesting shellfish in Deep Bay, British Columbia. The convictions were handed down at Courtenay's provincial courthouse on 7 July 2026 after an investigation that began with a DFO inspection on 26 August 2023 and was aided by tips from the public reporting program.
The four offenders were fined a combined $18,000 for breaches of the Fisheries Act, the Fishery (General) Regulations and the British Columbia Sport Fishing Regulations. Xiaohua (Jessica) Liu received a $4,500 fine for providing false information and possessing oysters unlawfully. Ya Chung Lao was fined $7,000 and barred from fishing for one year. Yilai Zhu was fined $3,500 for fishing without a licence and unlawful possession, while Chun Shui Tu was fined $3,000 for the same offences. DFO emphasized that illegal shellfish harvesting threatens the sustainability of fisheries and underscored the agency’s role in enforcement and education.
Entities
Chun Shui Tu · Fisheries and Oceans Canada · Xiaohua (Jessica) Liu · Ya Chung Lao · Yilai Zhu
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Chun Shui Tu was fined $3,000 for unlawful possession of shellfish. ladysmithchronicle.com · comoxvalleyrecord.com · westerlynews.ca
- [● 3 SOURCES] The four offenders were fined a total of $18,000 for violations of the Fisheries Act and related regulations. ladysmithchronicle.com · comoxvalleyrecord.com · westerlynews.ca
- [● 3 SOURCES] Yilai Zhu was fined $3,500 for fishing without a licence and unlawful possession. ladysmithchronicle.com · comoxvalleyrecord.com · westerlynews.ca
- [● 3 SOURCES] The convictions were issued on 7 July 2026 at Courtenay's provincial courthouse. ladysmithchronicle.com · comoxvalleyrecord.com · westerlynews.ca
- [● 3 SOURCES] The investigation began with a DFO inspection near Deep Bay on 26 August 2023, and public tips helped secure the convictions. ladysmithchronicle.com · comoxvalleyrecord.com · westerlynews.ca
- [● 3 SOURCES] Xiaohua (Jessica) Liu was fined $4,500 for making a false statement and unlawful possession of oysters. ladysmithchronicle.com · comoxvalleyrecord.com · westerlynews.ca
- [● 3 SOURCES] Ya Chung Lao was fined $7,000 and prohibited from fishing for one year. ladysmithchronicle.com · comoxvalleyrecord.com · westerlynews.ca
- [● 3 SOURCES] Fisheries and Oceans Canada convicted four individuals for illegal shellfish harvesting in Deep Bay. ladysmithchronicle.com · comoxvalleyrecord.com · westerlynews.ca