A fisherman from the Canadian province of New Brunswick has been fined CAD 10,000 ($6,950) for catching undersized lobsters, reports the Telegraph Journal. 

The charges were laid against Lance Francis in September 2024 after fisheries inspectors boarded his boat at the Richibucto wharf on Sept. 13 to inspect his catch. Among the 515 pounds of lobster, inspectors found 217 crustaceans with a carapace shorter than the 79-millimeter minimum.

All of those smaller lobsters were tossed back into the water except for a couple that were kept as evidence, according to the article.

Prosecutor Guylaine Basque told the court she couldn't find another case from the Moncton area involving such a high number of undersized lobsters. She asked provincial judge Ronald LeBlanc to impose a CAD 10,000 fine and also issue an order for probation and community service. LeBlanc agreed with the fine amount but said he didn't see the need for probation and community service.