DFO investigation into threatened Northern abalone concludes successfully

In Canada, harvesting this species is strictly prohibited and possession is illegal under the federal Fisheries Act and SARA.

On August 5 2008 in Richmond Provincial Court, Wun Tai Li, manager of Richmond-based Solidstate Enterprises Canada Ltd., appeared before the Honourable Judge Ronald Fratkin for the illegal possession of an unspecified quantity of frozen Northern abalone found mixed with other species of abalone. Ms Li pled guilty and was fined $25,000.

In a related case, on June 2 2009 Momoji Seafood Packaging and Exporting Ltd. appeared in Richmond Provincial Court. The Honourable Judge Jane McKinnon accepted a guilty plea and ordered a fine of $35,500, directing $34,500 of that amount to DFO to promote conservation and protection of Northern abalone through scientific research. Momoji, which was found in possession of approximately 120 pounds of Northern abalone, was also prohibited from possessing any species of abalone for the next two years. Proceedings against the company manager, Tat Tun Tsui, were stayed.

In addition to the above prosecutions and abalone seizures, the investigation led to the discovery of a significant quantity of Northern abalone (around 750 pounds) in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. The animals were seized and taken out of circulation by DFO Intelligence and Investigation fishery officers and forfeited under court order.

With the assistance of DFO Intelligence and Investigation unit and DNA evidence, the NMFS in San Diego successfully obtained a conviction in this operation in September 2009. An individual and company (Henry Chan and Zenith Trading) pled guilty to misdemeanor counts under the Lacey Act for the illegal possession of White abalone under the US Endangered Species Act. Mr Chan received a US$50,000 fine, $10,000 of which went into abalone research and education in the United States.