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Improper fish records sees man fined $8K in B.C. provincial court in Nanaimo

On Wednesday, fishing guide Ruzheng Ma, 71, pleaded guilty in Nanaimo provincial court to producing false records and possessing illegally caught fish, with Judge Chris Churchill imposing an $8,000 fine.
The charges stem from a July 3, 2025, incident when Fisheries and Oceans Canada officials boarded Ruzheng's 40-foot vessel and discovered 20 rockfish and one ling cod among 17 passengers, exceeding daily catch limits.
Defence counsel Charis Liu argued Ruzheng miscounted due to the number of buckets on board, emphasizing he instructed participants to report catches every 20 minutes to ensure compliance.
Churchill imposed two $4,000 fines payable within two years, while the court ordered forfeiture of fishing gear valued at $8,000 seized from the vessel.
Defence counsel Liu noted Ruzheng relies on a $1,500 monthly pension, and while he has no criminal record, he previously faced a penalty for a Dungeness crab fishing offense.

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