Boats seized in salmon poaching case

Photo: Contributed - msc.org

Fisheries and Oceans officers have seized eight boats and 50 gillnets as part of a crackdown on salmon poaching on British Columbia's Fraser River.

Fishery officer Nicole Gallant says the river is currently closed to salmon fishing due to low sockeye returns and high-water temperatures.

She says enforcement operations have been taking place from the river's mouth to a bridge just north of Yale, BC.

The boats and nets were sized in the last 10 days, and Gallant says authorities are investigating a number of suspects.

She says 30 officers are currently working on the lower Fraser, and they're using boats, vehicles and even air surveillance.

Enforcement operations are taking place throughout the day and evening, and Gallant says they'll continue until the river opens or the sockeye stop running.