Latest news with #Crerar
Miami Herald
30-07-2025
- Miami Herald
Poacher accused of ‘ravaging the ocean' off Canada gets prison time, records show
A Canadian man accused of 'ravaging the ocean and flouting the law' for more than a decade and poaching more than CA$1 million worth of sea cucumbers has been sentenced to six years in prison, court records show. Scott Steer, of Gabriola Island, faced eight charges including fishing in a closed area without a license, selling illegally harvested sea cucumbers and breaching an order prohibiting him from possessing fishing vessels, according to July 25 sentencing records from British Columbia Supreme Court Justice David Crerar. According to court records, Steer has the 'longest record of Fisheries Act violations in Canadian history,' with 34 convictions dating back to 2008 — but authorities say his non-compliance began even earlier. 'Steer considers himself unbound by laws,' Crerar said, adding that he fully recognized 'and even exulted in the criminality of his actions.' Steer's attorney Kevin Westell told McClatchy News in an email July 30 that Steer is 'incredibly disappointed with the result' of the sentencing. 'We are currently in the process of reviewing the trial and sentencing decisions from the perspective of a potential appeal. We have 30 days from the date of the sentencing decision to file a notice of appeal and plan to use the time constructively,' Westell said. Through a 'sham' corporation, Steer received more than CA$1 million through his illegal sea cucumber sales — an amount that is based on known payments from just one entity, officials said. 'Other revenues, from other buyers, are unknown,' Crerar said. 'The trial evidence indicated that revenues were likely significantly more.' In 2019, between October and December alone, Steer harvested 97,722 pounds of sea cucumbers under illegally-obtained licenses and 'harvested thousands of pounds of additional sea cucumbers' without any license at all, court records show. Steer's previous violations include poaching other marine life, including catching over 1,000 pounds of crab 'under cover of darkness' in Vancouver Harbor, which is permanently closed for crab harvesting, court records show. 'The only way to stop Mr Steer from ravaging the ocean and flouting the law and court orders is to move him far from the sea for a long period of time,' Crerar said in sentencing records. In many cultures, sea cucumbers are considered a delicacy and are often used in traditional medicine.
Vancouver Sun
29-07-2025
- Vancouver Sun
B.C. sea cucumber poacher gets six-year sentence for 'ravaging the ocean'
A B.C. judge has sentenced the man with the longest record of Fisheries Act violations in Canadian history to six years in prison for 'ravaging the ocean and flouting the law.' Scott Steer and his co-accused corporation faced eight charges including fishing in a closed area without a licence, selling more than $1 million worth of illegally harvested sea cucumbers and breaching an earlier order forbidding him from possessing fishing vessels. Steer's co-accused in the case was a numbered company owned by his wife, Melissa Steer, but the company was found to be a 'sham.' Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. B.C. Supreme Court Justice David Crerar in Nanaimo said in his ruling that Steer has a 'remarkably long record' of fisheries violations and other offences dating back more than a decade, and short stints in jail have 'wholly failed to deter or rehabilitate' him. The ruling notes that Steer, who was convicted of all eight charges had 34 prior convictions from 13 cases dating back to 2008. He was also charged for illegally harvesting sea cucumbers between July 2019 and March 2020. In March 2020, Steer was caught illegally harvesting more than 500 kilograms of crabs in Vancouver harbour. When he refused to stop for coast guard, officials boarded his vessel at high speed where they found Steer and two associations on board with 300 crabs and four commercial crab traps. This resulted in a 2021 conviction for illegal crab fishing. His prior offences include defrauding a vessel owner, breaching conditions in a case of intimate-partner violence and various probation violations. Steer was banned from fishing for 10 years in 2013, when his wife told the court her husband's actions were 'uncharacteristic' and regrettable. He sought a more lenient sentence by claiming he'd be rehabilitated. 'The Steers' actions and ongoing breaches since that date indicate that their statements to the court were cynical self-serving falsehoods,' Crerar's ruling in the new case says. Crerar's ruling says Steer and his wife continued their illegal fishing operations even while his trial was taking place. Steer's persistent 'knowing and mocking flouting of the law' indicates the 'unlikelihood of remorse or rehabilitation, now or in future.' The ruling says Steer told a witness during the trial that it was 'pointless' and a 'waste of time,' and that he gave evidence in court that was 'clearly and deliberately false.' 'The offenders' misconduct in this regard was not limited to the trial on this matter. It spanned the entirety of this prosecution,' Crerar's ruling says. The judge found Steer's long record and repeated Fisheries Act violations 'highly aggravating' in sentencing. 'The Crown understands Mr Steer's record to be the longest record of Fisheries Act violations in Canadian history. Warnings, fines, prohibitions, and multiple incarceration sentences of various lengths have all failed to deter or reform Mr. Steer,' the ruling says. The judge said Steer breached four prohibition orders in his latest list of offences, which 'further illustrates his contempt for the court process, as well as the futility of protecting the public and marine resources through further prohibitions or less intrusive means reliant on his voluntary compliance and reform.' The judge found Steer's operation was 'complex' and involved multiple co-conspirators, and the 'scale and sophistication' of it was illustrated by the more than $1 million in illegal sea cucumber sales at the heart of the case. The sales were made in 2019, while the illegal fishing charges involved 11,000 kilograms of sea cucumbers that year. Fisheries and Oceans Canada says sea cucumbers are considered a medicinal food in Asia, with China being the biggest export market. It is a 'limited entry fishery' in B.C., restricted to a few dozen commercial licence holders who can only harvest by hand for eight weeks a year. Judge Crerar's ruling says Steer sought leniency based on the needs of his family, including his four children with his wife and another child from her previous relationship. The ruling says other judges had warned Steer in past cases about consequences for his family due to him being sent to jail. 'Steer continued in his illegal fishing operations with eyes wide open to the likely consequences of his illegal activities on his family life,' Crerar's ruling says. 'It is through his voluntary actions that he is separated from his family.' The ruling says Steer believes himself 'unbound by laws' and that short stints in jail as punishments are 'literally a joke.' Crerar gave Steer six years in prison and also fined him and his company $1.1 million 'specifically to condemn the Steers' deliberate, destructive, and dishonest actions.' In 2021, Postmedia reported on the province's attempt to seize a Gabriola Island home and more than $1.3 million in cash from Steer, saying the cash and home are proceeds of illegal fishing and money laundering. The Gabriola home, at the time, was valued at $622,000 and listed as being owned by Steer's mother in law. However, the civil forfeiture claim alleges Diane Gail Butz was a nominee owner and that Steer and his wife were the beneficial or true owners. Butz later filed a response arguing against the forfeiture of the Gabriola property and in 2022, the province discontinued the action against Butz's home. With files from Postmedia News
Hamilton Spectator
29-07-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
B.C. sea cucumber poacher gets six-year sentence for ‘ravaging the ocean'
A British Columbia judge has sentenced a man with the longest record of Fisheries Act violations in Canadian history to six years in prison for 'ravaging the ocean and flouting the law.' Scott Steer and his co-accused corporation faced eight charges including fishing in a closed area without a licence, selling more than $1 million worth of illegally harvested sea cucumbers and breaching an earlier order forbidding him from possessing fishing vessels. Steer's co-accused in the case was a numbered company owned by his wife, Melissa Steer, but the company was found to be a 'sham.' B.C. Supreme Court Justice David Crerar in Nanaimo said in his ruling that Steer has a 'remarkably long record' of fisheries violations and other offences dating back more than a decade, and short stints in jail have 'wholly failed to deter or rehabilitate' him. The ruling notes that Steer, who was convicted of all eight charges had 34 prior convictions from 13 cases dating back to 2008. They include illegally harvesting more than 1,000 pounds of crabs from Vancouver's harbour, defrauding a vessel owner, breaching conditions in a case of intimate-partner violence and various probation violations. Steer was banned from fishing for 10 years in 2013, when his wife told the court her husband's actions were 'uncharacteristic' and regrettable. He sought a more lenient sentence by claiming he'd be rehabilitated. 'The Steers' actions and ongoing breaches since that date indicate that their statements to the court were cynical self-serving falsehoods,' Crerar's ruling in the new case says. Crerar's ruling says Steer and his wife continued their illegal fishing operations even while his trial was taking place. Steer's persistent 'knowing and mocking flouting of the law' indicates the 'unlikelihood of remorse or rehabilitation, now or in future.' The ruling says Steer told a witness during the trial that it was 'pointless' and a 'waste of time,' and that he gave evidence in court that was 'clearly and deliberately false.' 'The offenders' misconduct in this regard was not limited to the trial on this matter. It spanned the entirety of this prosecution,' Crerar's ruling says. The judge found Steer's long record and repeated Fisheries Act violations 'highly aggravating' in sentencing. 'The Crown understands Mr Steer's record to be the longest record of Fisheries Act violations in Canadian history. Warnings, fines, prohibitions, and multiple incarceration sentences of various lengths have all failed to deter or reform Mr. Steer,' the ruling says. The judge said Steer breached four prohibition orders in his latest list of offences, which 'further illustrates his contempt for the court process, as well as the futility of protecting the public and marine resources through further prohibitions or less intrusive means reliant on his voluntary compliance and reform.' The judge found Steer's operation was 'complex' and involved multiple co-conspirators, and the 'scale and sophistication' of it was illustrated by the more than $1 million in illegal sea cucumber sales at the heart of the case. The sales were made in 2019, while the illegal fishing charges involved more than 24,000 pounds of sea cucumbers that year. Fisheries and Oceans Canada says sea cucumbers are considered a medicinal food in Asia, with China being the biggest export market. It is a 'limited entry fishery' in B.C., restricted to a few dozen commercial licence holders who can only harvest by hand for eight weeks a year. Judge Crerar's ruling says Steer sought leniency based on the needs of his family, including his four children with his wife and another child from her previous relationship. The ruling says other judges had warned Steer in past cases about consequences for his family due to him being sent to jail. 'Steer continued in his illegal fishing operations with eyes wide open to the likely consequences of his illegal activities on his family life,' Crerar's ruling says. 'It is through his voluntary actions that he is separated from his family.' The ruling says Steer believes himself 'unbound by laws' and that short stints in jail as punishments are 'literally a joke.' Crerar gave Steer six years in prison and also fined him and his company $1.1 million 'specifically to condemn the Steers' deliberate, destructive, and dishonest actions.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 29, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Global News
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Global News
Concerns grow over loss of major Vernon event, economic benefits
A colourful and ceremonial military event in Vernon, B.C., has come to a rather unceremonious end. After 12 years, organizers of the Okanagan Military Tattoo have called it quits, pointing a lot of the blame at the city and its decision to jack up rents at city-owned facilities including Kal Tire Place, where the event was held for many of those years. 'It's a huge disappointment,' said Norm Crerar, the event's co-founder. Crerar said that putting on the event was becoming challenging, with hotel accommodations and the price of food going up significantly. He told Global News the rent increase was the last blow. According to Crerar, the rent fee has gone up by more than $10,000 in last few years and now exceeds $35,000 for five days. Story continues below advertisement 'That was the last straw,' Crerar said. 'That was almost an insult.' Crerar called it an insult because the event is put on by a non-profit group, and with some 3,000 spectators taking in the event, many from around the region, along with about 500 performers, the city, he said, benefitted in a big way. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'It is shortsighted,' Crerar told Global News. 'This generated about $2.5 million in economic activity in this area here.' 2:15 Kelowna welcomes Brier and economic boom it brings The Vernon Chamber of Commerce is also concerned. The organization has sent a letter to the city calling for immediate action, including a review of the fee structures for non-profit user groups. The letter urged the city to 'foster a culture that recognizes and supports the economic and social contributions of non-profits, rather than positioning them as a source to backfill City budget.' Story continues below advertisement In a statement to Global News, the city stated, 'While the City understands the value brought to the community by hosting private events, balance between fees paid by the user and subsidization through taxation needs to be sought as well.' Crerar said the event will not return to Vernon but added that a group in Abbotsford is expressing interest in taking it on in that city. He said if that becomes reality, Vernon's loss would be Abbotsford's gain. In the Chamber's letter to the city, the organization also expressed concern about other events coping with rising rent costs, including Creative Chaos Western, which it said will operate at a financial loss for the first time in its 50-year history due to a 30-per cent increase in rental fees. It also mentioned the 'Vernon Farmers' Market. According to the Chamber, the farmers' market has lost 30 per cent of its vendors during peak season after fees were increased by 300 per cent.
