An unidentified protester holds a banner during Greenpeace's occupation of Shell's operation in Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., on Oct. 3, 2009. (Greenpeace)

A dozen Greenpeace activists who chained themselves to smokestacks and cranes at the Shell Scotford upgrader site east of Edmonton last year were each fined $2,000 after pleading guilty to mischief over $5,000.

The pleas were entered Thursday in Sherwood Park provincial court.

In October 2009, the activists scaled the upgrader construction site to protest what they called "climate crimes of the tarsands" in advance of climate change talks held last December in Copenhagen.

Members of the group were also facing breaking and entering charges but those were withdrawn by the Crown. In addition to the $2,000 fine, the protesters were forced to forfeit about $9,000 worth of climbing gear that was seized by police.

Charges were dropped against four other protesters.

Greenpeace Alberta spokesman Mike Hudema, who was not directly involved in the protest, said the activists knew they might face charges.

"They were willing to take that risk," he said. "They were willing to sacrifice and risk being arrested and being convicted because they believe in something greater than themselves."

The Scotford protest was among several protests carried out by Greenpeace in the fall of 2009.

In two separate incidents in September 2009 in Alberta, Greenpeace activists chained themselves to massive oilsands trucks at Shell's Albian Sands mine, north of Fort McMurray, and another 20 blocked work at Suncor's open-pit mine in the northern part of the province.

Hudema said the protesters should be commended for their actions and hopes the attention will lead to less oilsands development.