Justice
August 31, 2009
Inland Fish Enforcement Continues to Net
Poachers
Recent surveillance and undercover
operations conducted by the Inland Fish Enforcement
agency of the Department of Justice has resulted in
significant seizures and a total of 50 charges being
laid against seven individuals. These charges are part
of the ongoing operations of the agency as it attempts
to eradicate destructive poaching activity in
Newfoundland and Labrador.
Recently near the community of Quirpon,
Inland Fish Enforcement officers conducted a
surveillance operation of organized poaching. This
operation resulted in 26 charges against three
individuals for the alleged offence of illegal netting
of Atlantic salmon in coastal waters. Another organized
poaching ring in the community of Norris Point was
busted and three individuals are facing a total of nine
charges for their alleged involvement in the illegal
netting of Atlantic salmon in coastal waters. During the
course of these operations officers seized three boats,
18 salmon, numerous nets and other poaching related
equipment.
An undercover operation near Grand
Falls-Windsor resulted in 15 charges against one
individual for a range of alleged offences including
trafficking-in Atlantic salmon, illegal netting and
possession. In total, officers have laid 235 fish
related charges against 89 individuals and have issued a
number of warnings this season. Also, 126 charges for
alleged violations under the Motorized Snow Vehicles
and All-Terrain Vehicles Act, the Wild Life
Act and the Criminal Code of Canada have been
laid. A truck, eight boats, three all-terrain vehicles
and many illegal nets have been seized.
Two recent convictions against two
individuals resulting from investigations in western
Newfoundland have resulted in fines totaling $3,300. One
of these individuals is prohibited from fishing inland
waters for a year. As well, a conviction last week for a
recent apprehension of an individual near Foxtrap has
resulted in a fine of $1,500 for jigging salmon.
Inland Fish Enforcement is committed
to preserving the province�s salmon and trout stocks by
targeting and eliminating organized poaching activity.
The public can anonymously report suspected poaching to
the Inland Fish Enforcement poaching hotline at
1-877-820-0999, by contacting Crime Stoppers or through
the Department of Justice website:
www.gov.nl.ca/just/inlandfish/violation.htm.
The Department of Justice has recently
launched a new television ad campaign to raise awareness
of this illegal activity. These ads can be viewed on the
Department of Justice website:
www.gov.nl.ca/just/inlandfish/.
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