By Brian Schultz
A Winnipeg man and his company have been fined for importing protected species from Indonesia.
Jayson Daeninck and Saltwater Connection were sentenced on October 17 to 18 charges under the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (WAPPRIITA).
The Environment Canada investigation led to fines of $135,822 in provincial court, which included storage costs for the live rock over the past five years. Live rock is coral rock which is attached to live specimens of invertebrate species and coralline algae.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) first discovered a 9,508 kg shipping container of suspected live rocks in June 2007, originating in Indonesia. Environment Canada’s enforcement branch followed up with an investigation when the container arrived in Winnipeg from British Columbia.
The fines will be distributed by 90% to the Environmental Damages Fund.
