Tofino Harbour Authority closed due to standoff with 'squatter,' agency says

Tofino, B.C., is pictured. (Getty Images)

The Tofino Harbour Authority says it has temporarily shuttered its office in the coastal Vancouver Island community due to an escalating standoff with the operator of a so-called "squatter" vessel.

The harbour authority says the vessel has been illegally occupying harbour property at the Armitage Point dock for more than two years, despite repeated notices to vacate.

Ryan Crawford, the harbour authority's operations manager, says the vessel operator has been discharging raw sewage and burning wood in the sensitive marine area, leading to confrontations with harbour authority staff.

"The situation, which has been unresolved for over two years, escalated recently, prompting the closure," Crawford said in a statement Monday.

The not-for-profit harbour authority, which leases and manages the daily operations of the public small-craft marina from its Fourth Street office, says the vessel operator refuses to leave the premises and is disrupting critical harbour operations.

The office closure will affect essential services for the local fishing and tourism industries, the statement warned.

"Despite repeated efforts by the harbour authority to engage with local authorities and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), responses have been delayed due to bureaucratic barriers," the statement said.

"In a concerning development, two high-ranking DFO officers were seen interacting with the squatter today, raising further concerns about the response from authorities."

The operations manager said the harbour authority is frustrated by "the slow reaction from law enforcement and government agencies, which has left the situation unresolved."

A Fisheries and Oceans Canada spokesperson said the agency is "aware of the issues that the Tofino Harbour Authority board has been managing" and will support the board as it works to resolve the dispute.

"DFO maintains an arm's length relationship with the board, as outlined under the lease agreement," the spokesperson said in an emailed statement. "The harbour authority board remains responsible for keeping the harbour open and operational."

'Immediate action' needed

Cpl. Alex Bérubé, spokesperson for the Island District RCMP, declined to comment specifically on the situation.

"The RCMP doesn't typically confirm or deny any investigations taking place until such time where criminal charges are laid," he said.

The Tofino Harbour Authority, which was established in 1999, manages commercial and recreational moorage at the Fourth Street docks, the Armitage Point dock and the Wingren Lane facilities.

"We call on authorities at all levels to address this matter urgently," Tofino Harbour Authority president Shayne Sadler said Monday.

"Our ability to serve the community is being compromised, and we need immediate action to restore order and ensure the safety of our staff and the public."

Fisheries and Oceans Canada says the Harbour Authority Association of B.C. has been working with local harbour authority to resolve what it described as a "governance issue."

A District of Tofino spokesperson said the municipality would not comment on the harbour's operations or the closure's impact on the community.