News Release

Old Fort Seafoods Found Guilty and Fined a Total of $50,000, Under The Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 

SEPT-ILES, Quebec -- December 5, 2008 -- Environment Canada announced that a Court of Quebec justice today found 4286804 Canada Inc. guilty under Part 7, Section 3 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. The company operates the Old Fort Seafoods processing plant in Vieux‑Fort Quebec.

The Court of Quebec fined the company a total of $50,000, including a fine of $10,000 and a requirement to contribute $40,000 to the Environmental Damages Fund (EDF). This fund, administered by Environment Canada, is used to promote and fund restoration projects. The EDF also helps to hold offending businesses accountable and helps the courts ensure that the money will be used to improve the quality of the environment.

The company 4286804 Canada Inc. was found guilty of 16 counts of having, on 14 occasions, deliberately loaded fish waste or organic materials from its industrial fish processing operations onto a barge and having dumped them into the waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence at the Baie de Vieux‑Fort, without first obtaining a Canadian ocean disposal permit. Furthermore, after having obtained a disposal permit, the company did not comply with the conditions indicated, thus contravening the Act.

The charges were laid following an investigation by officers from the Environmental Enforcement division of Environment Canada’s Quebec Region. Environment Canada investigates offences under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 and the pollution prevention provisions of the Fisheries Act. The Department ensures that businesses and individuals comply with these acts, which serve to protect the Canada’s environment.

For more information on Environment Canada’s enforcement program, visit http://www.ec.gc.ca/alef-ewe/Default.asp?lang=En&n=B670A72A-1.

For more information, please contact:

Media Relations
Environment Canada
819 934 8008
1 888 908 8008