(NEWS 1130) — Two U.S. boat operators have been fined under the federal Quarantine Act after entering Canadian waters during the COVID-19 border closure.
The first was on July 10, when the operator of a vessel near Vancouver Island misstated its intention to travel to Alaska and had entered Canada for the purposes of tourism.
“Boaters are not allowed within Canadian territorial or boundary waters for discretionary, leisure or non-essential reasons, including touring, sightseeing and pleasure fishing,” says a release from the B.C. RCMP.
The RCMP Pacific Shiprider Program is issuing fines to U.S. boaters contravening the Quarantine Act.
Two American boaters have been charged under the Quarantine Act after illegally entering BC waters. RCMP say one of them “clearly misstated their intention to travel to Alaska and came to Canada for tourism purposes instead.” Both were fined $1,000. @NEWS1130
— Sonia Aslam (@SoniaSAslam) July 21, 2020
The boat operator was fined $1,000 and could be banned from Canadian waters for up to six months.
The operator of an American whale-watching vessel was located by Shiprider on July 17 near the Southern Gulf Islands and fined for the same offense.
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After dealing with the Canadian order Security Agency, the vessel returned to U.S. waters with its passengers.
The Canadian government introduced measures to limit the spread of COVID-19, including the restriction of all discretionary travel into Canada.
The current measures are to remain in place until Aug, 21.