Premier Williams raises fisheries enforcement with other premiers

The provincial government�s Inland Fisheries Enforcement Program continues to have an impact on organized poaching being conducted on the rivers of Newfoundland and Labrador, as violators continues to be caught and charged with a variety of offenses. Premier Danny Williams says he is very pleased with the results of increasing enforcement from provincial funding, however he will continue to press the federal government for increased funding and is looking for the support of his fellow premiers.

Premier Williams raised this issue at the Council of the Federation Meeting in Niagara-on-the-Lake in late July. "These meetings allow the provinces to exchange ideas and discuss issues of mutual interest and inland fishery enforcement is one such issue," said the Premier. "Salmon are an invaluable and irreplaceable natural resource in our province and right across the country. Effective and efficient enforcement of rivers is the responsibility of the federal government and in the name of conservation, it is my duty to continue to lobby the federal government to ensure that adequate funding is allocated to preserve our salmon." The Premier said he would welcome the support and involvement of other premiers in this effort and felt it was incumbent on him to bring this issue forward at the meetings and put it on the national agenda.

"When actions are taken to curtail salmon poaching, it ensures the strength of the species, the livelihood of adventure tourism operators and positive economic impacts to our province through dollars generated by the tourism industry, particularly in rural Newfoundland and Labrador," added the Premier. "The provincial government recognizes the importance of preserving this species and, though it is not a provincial responsibility, we took the necessary action to protect our inland resources. We could no longer sit idly by and hope for more federal funding or for illegal activity to stop. It appears our efforts are paying off."

Recently, conservation officers with the Department of Natural Resources successfully broke another significant poaching operation on the west coast near the community of St. Fintan�s. A three-week investigation has resulted in nine male individuals, seven from this province and two from Ontario, being charged for a variety of offences related to the poaching activity.

Premier Williams said he is very pleased with the results being achieved by the provincial conservation officers assigned to the Inland Fisheries Enforcement Program since assuming their duties in early July.

"When this initiative was implemented it was hoped to achieve immediate results. With these recent charges being laid against several individuals a clear message is being sent to potential poachers that such activity is unacceptable and will not be tolerated," said Premier Williams. "Our conservation officers, with the support of other agencies, resource user groups and the general public, will continue their concerted effort to identify, charge and prosecute all those taking part in the willful destruction of our inland fish and wildlife resources."

Charges laid during this investigation include trafficking in salmon, illegal possession of salmon, possession of untagged salmon and illegal possession of a net. Officers have also notified the RCMP of several violations under the Highway Traffic Act arising from the use of two motorcycles. In addition, a quantity of salmon, a salmon net, two motorcycles, and one car, were seized during the investigation

The nine male individuals, five from St. Fintan�s, two from Cambridge, Ontario, and one each from Jeffries and Stephenville, face a total of 14 charges. The residents from this province have been summoned to appear in court at Stephenville on September 20, 2004, while the two residents from Ontario are due to appear in court at Port aux Basques on September 29, 2004.

Premier Williams advised that since the provincial government took the initiative to establish the Inland Fisheries Enforcement Program, the conservation officers have detected 111 violations resulting in charges being laid against a total of 71 individuals. In addition, several items have been seized including five boats, one car, one truck, two motorcycles, 20 nets, 127 salmon and various fishing equipment.

"I certainly commend our officers for the commitment they have shown in our efforts to protect our Atlantic salmon stock from further decline," said Premier Williams. "Their success at laying charges and making seizures is proof that the federal government should be living up to its responsibility in a real way to protect our natural resources."

Conservation officers continue to work in cooperation with their colleagues in the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and fisheries guardians throughout the province to protect inland waters from violators.

Media contact:

Elizabeth Matthews, Office of the Premier (709) 729-3960, (709) 690-5500
Carmel Turpin, Natural Resources (709) 729-5282

2004 08 18                                     11:00 a.m.