An American vessel operator was fined and directed back to the United States after being intercepted by officials near Ucluelet earlier this week.
Canada Border Services Agency’s Pacific Region said On Aug. 31 after a Canadian Coast Guard alert, the Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA) and B.C. RCMP stopped a U.S. vessel in the waters near Ucluelet.
The operator received a $2,000 fine for failing to report to the CBSA upon arrival in Canada and violation of the Quarantine Act. The vessel operator was ordered to go back to the U.S.
Following a @CoastGuardCAN alert, the #CBSA & @BCRCMP attended a #US vessel in Canadian waters near #Ucluelet on Aug 31. A total of $2,000 in fines were issued for failing to report to the CBSA upon arrival & violation of the #QuarantineAct. Vessel was directed back to the US. pic.twitter.com/Hspcrd7wDa
— Border Services PAC (@CanBorderPAC) September 3, 2020
Mounties are now reminding foreign boaters to be careful to follow the rules ahead of the Labour Day long weekend.
Cpl. Daniel Michaud, with the RCMP’s Federal Serious and Organized Crime unit, said officers will be working closely with the Coast Guard and others to ensure vessels coming from American waters abide by Canadian regulations during the long weekend.
“We know when long weekends and things of that nature happen ? people might take some vacation to enjoy the water. We have our eyes and ears and technology to check that out,” he said in an interview.
A spokesman for CBSA said in a statement that American boaters can enter Canadian waters under certain circumstances.
“Boaters are still permitted to navigate across international waters if needed but are not allowed to enter Canadian territorial or boundary waters for discretionary, leisure (non-essential) reasons, including entry for touring, sightseeing and pleasure fishing,” said Louis-Carl Brissette Lesage in an email.
He added that any diversion for sightseeing would be prohibited and face possible enforcement.
The Quarantine Act states that anyone entering Canada, including Canadian waters, must quarantine for 14 days. It bans all non-essential travel into Canada.
Failing to follow the act could lead to a six-month prison sentence and up to $750,000 in fines.
Boat operators are only permitted to make essential stops along the way through Canadian waters, such as refuelling and restocking necessary supplies.
Travellers are required to remain on their boats if they need to dock or spend the night in a marina.
And all travellers entering Canada, including foreign national boaters who drop anchor in Canadian waters, must report to the CBSA.
Michaud could not comment on the specifics of the Ucluelet case but said boaters who travel in the waters around B.C. are experienced.
“The navigation of these waters are complicated, so these are experienced boaters,” he said. “Our impression is that they’re experienced boaters and all of the laws and regulations are explained to them.”
Michaud did not have a complete number of American-owned vessels that have been fined and forced to leave but believes it’s less than 10.
In July, two U.S. boat operators were fined for entering B.C. waters for tourism purposes.
Both of those owners were fined $1,000 after they were located.
With files from The Canadian Press
CHEK News
