Boat and 26 chinook seized amid allegations of overfishing off B.C.'s coast

Vancouver Island RCMPhave seized a nine-metre fishing boat and more than two dozen chinook salmon over what they say are allegations of "significant overfishing."

The RCMP say they received a report Wednesday of possible Fisheries Act violations by those aboard the vessel on the west side of Vancouver Island near Nootka Sound.

In a news release, police allege officers with the Fisheries Department found more than two dozen chinook salmon, about 24 kilograms of salmon roe, 18 rock cod fillets and eight ling cod fillets.

Chinook populations, the main food source for B.C.'s endangered southern resident orcas, are on the decline..

The Fisheries Department has limited recreational fishermen to an allowable catch of two chinook per day in the area.

Police say three people from outside the province are expected to appear in court in Gold River, B.C., in November to face charges under the Fisheries Act.

The Nootka Sound RCMP says it is continuing to assist conservation and protection officers from the West Coast Vancouver Island and the North Vancouver Island DFO detachments with the investigation into the overfishing.