Illegal prawn fishing lands 2 BC men $40K in fines and one fishing ban

Illegal prawn harvesting in 2022 has resulted in two men being handed hefty fines and a fishing ban.

According to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), two recent, related court cases two men were found guilty of offences after illegally harvesting prawns in an area near Ladysmith.

The fines stem from a May 30, 2022 report to DFO about a vessel fishing during a commercial prawn fishery closure.

On April 29, 2025, Scott Castle was found guilty of remotely directing the vessel master Terry Lorenz to illegally fish in a closed area of Stuart Channel over several days.

Castle was convicted of the illegal sale of prawns from a closed area and not completing the mandatory fish slips, which are required under the conditions of licences for prawn harvesters.

On May 15, 2025, Lorenz was found guilty of the same offence.

According to DFO, Castle was fined $30,000 for fishing during a closed time and the licence violations.

He was also fined an additional $8,228 from the proceeds of the sale of the illegally caught prawns.

Lorenz was handed a $3,000 fine and banned from fishing for five years.

DFO says the commercial prawn fishery is a significant source of revenue for commercial harvesters and provides process-related jobs that benefit coastal communities.

However, prawns only live about four years and fishing in closed areas can deplete the population of female prawns needed for reproduction.

So, excessive fishing can cause a lot of harm to not only prawn populations but the people who depend on the fishing industry.

“Excess and illegal harvesting undermines these economic benefits, harming not only harvesters and communities, but also recreational anglers and Indigenous peoples who rely on prawn as a vital food source. Excess and illegal harvesting also poses a serious threat to conservation efforts,” said DFO.