I’m really happy to have this behind me; it’s been a real ordeal,” said fisherman and author Linda Greenlaw from her home on Isle au Haut on June 11.
She was referring to the period which began in September 2008, when-charged with illegally entering and fishing in Canadian waters-she was led into a St. John’s, Newfoundland, court in handcuffs. The period ended in June 2009 when a municipal court judge fined her $38,000-$35,000 for illegal entry and fishing and $3,000 for proceeds from her catch-having been convicted in May. The prosecution had sought a $53,000 fine; Greenlaw’s attorney had asked for half that amount.
Greenlaw maintained throughout that her trespass was accidental.
“I was not surprised [by the sentence], but I can’t say I’m relieved,” she says. “I’m optimistic to the point of being delusional so I was hoping for a slap on the wrist.”
Greenlaw added, “It could have been worse. I always pay for my mistakes, but this one was more expensive than I’m used to.”
When handing down his verdict Judge Joseph Woodrow said he believed Greenlaw when she said that she didn’t realize she had crossed the 200-mile limit line. He added that she had been cooperative all throughout the procedure.
But Judge Woodrow added that Greenlaw had not done “due diligence” and had not checked her position and so was responsible.
Greenlaw says, “I was caught inadvertently and unknowingly retrieving the gear that had been run over by a ship and towed across an imaginary line in the ocean.”
She continued, “I am guilty of illegal entry and illegal fishing in Canada. I was hoping because of the circumstances and the evidence that the judge would acquit me, but with the prosecution’s presentation of due diligence that didn’t happen. I wasn’t surprised, but I was disappointed.”
Greenlaw added, “I don’t think my attorney and I presented the judge with enough evidence to acquit me. The court’s standard for due diligence is very high. Actually, there’s never been an acquittal on this charge; no one has been acquitted.” Her attorney was Wayne White of St. John’s, Newfoundland.
Greenlaw, who has been swordfishing for 20 years, was fishing on Sept. 23 of last year when she was spotted by a patrol plane. Her boat was then boarded by the crew members of a Canadian Coast Guard cutter. A documentary film crew was aboard the Sea Hawk when Greenlaw was arrested. The crew was from Original Productions of Burbank, Calif, which produces “Deadliest Catch,” a television show about Alaska crab fishermen.
Will there be a film, and if so, when will it air?
“I wish I knew the answer,” Greenlaw says. “As soon as the cameras got turned off, so did the information.”
Will the author of The Hungry Ocean go swordfishing again?
“If the right opportunity comes along and the timing is right,” she says. I may go this fall; we’ll see what comes up, but I haven’t really decided yet. This [verdict and sentencing] won’t deter me, though.”
Will the author of The Lobster Chronicles continue lobstering? “I just set my first set of traps.”
Greenlaw concluded, “Being a fisherman is like being in a Western; you never know when the horse is going to get shot out from under you.”