Man fined $7,000 for exporting fossils, gems to Japan

A Saskatchewan man has been fined $7,000 after pleading guilty in a Calgary court last weekto unlawfully exporting fossils and gems from the Burgess Shale Formation.

Terry Ciotka of Pangea Fossils Ltd. was convicted of two violations under the Cultural Property Export and Import Act and one violation under the Canada National Parks Act.

On August 20, 2011, Ciotka attempted to export fossils, minerals and gemstones specifically, Burgess Shale, ammolite gemstones and ammonite fossil to Japan.

The Canada Border Services Agency notified the RCMP Serious and Organized Crime Section after becoming suspicious of the declared value of the items and the lack of cultural export permits.

Located in Yoho National Park in BC, the Burgess Shale Formation is one of the world's most celebrated fossil fields.

It is roughly 505 million-years-old and is noted for its ability to preserve the soft parts of fossils.

This is believed to be the first conviction of its kind under the National Parks Act, which aims to protect the integrity of Canada's parks.