The illegal operation was first flagged by public complaints in early 2021, raising concerns about fish escapes and environmental damage.
West Coast Fishculture (Lois Lake) Ltd has been fined $350,000 for operating an unlicensed steelhead salmon farm at Lois Lake, near Powell River, British Columbia.
The company pleaded guilty in Powell River Provincial Court last month to operating without a license under the Fisheries Act.
The case stems from inspections by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), which revealed that the fish farm was operating 300 to 500 meters outside of its approved tenure. Despite being aware of this, the company continued its illegal operations for 483 days, stocking fish in unauthorized pens.
Crown prosecutor Molly Greene stressed the importance of the fine as a deterrent. “The need for a deterrent effect on others in the industry is significant, and the penalty has to be more than just the cost of doing business,” Greene told the court.
She added that the illegal operation posed a risk to the local environment, particularly to native trout populations that had to compete with much larger farmed salmon.
In addition to the fine, Judge Carmen Rogers ordered the company to remove all remaining infrastructure from Lois Lake by August 31, 2025.
While the company accepted responsibility, charges against Sean Wilton, director of West Coast Fishculture, and Robert Leckie, CEO of parent company AgriMarine Holdings Inc., were stayed. Neither Wilton nor Leckie were present in court during sentencing.
Defense counsel Michael Shapray said the farm had not stocked fish since the fall of 2023, and the decommissioning process had already begun. However, Shapray noted that removing the large anchoring systems used in the farm’s infrastructure is proving to be a challenging task.
Environmental groups welcomed the decision. “This is a significant win,” said Stan Proboszcz, senior scientist at Watershed Watch Salmon Society. “The company knew they were operating illegally and continued to do so. This fine is a meaningful outcome.”
The illegal operation was first flagged by public complaints in early 2021, raising concerns about fish escapes and environmental damage. During the inspections, DFO officers noted that several pens lacked netting to prevent escapes, and one had caused the death of a great blue heron trapped in bird netting.
Ron Evans, a director with West Coast Fishculture, was present to represent the company and pay the fine. He confirmed there are no future plans to operate the fish farm at Lois Lake.
