Convictions for five people and three companies in the Nova Scotia halibut fishery.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans says it’s part of charges laid in 2021 near Sambro under the Fisheries Act.

There were four trials and 18 violations overall, leading to over $260,000 in fines and two licence suspensions.

Charges included inaccurate catch information in order to land more halibut, and failing to have catch verified by a dockside observer.

DFO says Atlantic halibut has become the most valuable species for groundfish licence holders in Nova Scotia over the past several years.