Shelburne Provincial Court has sentenced four people to pay a total of $70,000 for fishery violations.

The individual sentencing information is:

• • Johnny Penney pleaded guilty to unlawful transport of halibut and obstructing a fishery officer. He was sentenced to pay $25K by April 20, 2023 and may not fish any species except lobster for a period of three years.
  • Dean Goreham pleaded guilty to unlawful transport of halibut and possession of undersized halibut. He was sentenced to pay $25K by April 20, 2023.
  • Devin Peterson pleaded guilty to unlawful transport of halibut and obstructing a fishery officer. He was sentenced to pay $10K by April 20, 2023.
  • Dustin Kenney pleaded guilty to unlawful transportation of halibut and obstructing a fishery officer. He was sentenced to pay $10K by May 24, 2023.

In May 2019, an inspection took place on a lobster vessel that attempted to flee from fishery officers when it returned to Sherose Island Wharf in Barrington Bay.

The vessel apprehended fishery officers who directed it back to the harbour, determined it was smuggling halibut, and made arrests.

The Shelburne court’s convictions have resulted in the seizure of $34K worth of halibut, a truck and trailer.