A man from British Columbia has received a fine of $7,500 after being discovered with endangered northern abalone in his possession.

In September 2025, fisheries officers apprehended the individual following a tip-off from the Metlakatla Fishery Guardians, an Indigenous stewardship organization that often partners with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) for enforcement efforts.

The DFO reported that the guardians had concerns that individuals fishing in the waters near Metlakatla, located approximately five kilometers north of Prince Rupert, might have harvested northern abalone.

Upon investigation, fisheries officers found the man with 10 of these mollusks.

Northern abalone is classified as endangered under Canada’s Species at Risk Act, indicating it faces the threat of extinction.

This marine snail, which is related to clams, scallops, and octopuses, is indigenous to the west coast of North America and is highly prized for its meat, according to DFO.

Despite a complete ban on harvesting the species since 1990, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada states that the population has not rebounded, with poaching identified as its most significant danger.

The DFO mentioned that the 10 abalone that were confiscated were released back into the water alive to “maximize their chance of survival.”