COVID\u002D19: Water police fine U.S. whale\u002Dwatching vessel caught in local waters
The Pacific Shiprider Program targets potential offending vessels using technology or regular ocean patrols and works closely with Canada Border Services Agency, Canadian Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
The program conducts maritime patrols and traditionally investigates the activities of organized crime groups, but in COVID times has turned its attention to enforcing the Quarantine Act. The Canadian border with the U.S. is currently closed to all non-essential travel, including on the water. Michaud said the operator of the U.S. based whale-watching vessel was located on July 17 and fined $1,000. The boat with passengers was escorted back to U.S. waters.the operator of another U.S.-based vessel was charged under Section 58 of the Quarantine Act and fined.
“It was clear the persons on this vessel had misstated their intention to travel to Alaska and had entered Canada for the purposes of tourism,” Michaud said in a prepared statement. “Boaters are not allowed within Canadian territorial or boundary waters for discretionary, leisure reasons, including touring, sightseeing and pleasure fishing.”
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