Question Period Note: Herring

• DFO Conservation & Protection is aware of the alleged dumping of herring that occurred March 19 in at the Deep Bay, BC.
• DFO is committed to managing Pacific herring fisheries to ensure that there is enough herring to spawn and sustain the stock into the future and support its role in the ecosystem.
• Dumping of fish caught under the authority of a licence is a violation of section 34 (2) of the Fisheries General Regulations
• As the investigation into this matter is ongoing, DFO and C&P can not provide any further comments.
• Anyone with information is asked to call their local DFO Conservation & Protection office.
• Any one who would like to report suspected fisheries violations is asked to call their local DFO Conservation & Protection office or Crimestoppers.

• The Department became aware of a report that on March 19, 2021 herring (biomass TBD) was dumped at the Deep Bay Small Craft Harbour dock.
• The Conservancy Hornby Island group investigated an anonymous tip that a herring fishing boat dumped its catch into the harbour. They have been circulating a video on social media. The video states that a fisher dumped their catch after a packer refused to accept it. Dumping of catch is prohibited under the Fisheries (General) Regulations subsection 34 (2).
• Media has started to pick up the story and Conservancy Hornby Island has been sharing across their social media channels. Media interest in this issue is expected to be considerable.

None