Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Division Make Arrests

An officer with the new Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Division of the Department of Justice arrested two men and one woman for alleged salmon poaching on June 27 on the north shore of Deer Lake. The investigation was initiated as a result of several complaints of these individuals illegally netting salmon. One of the men is a resident of Hughes Brook, while the other man and the woman are residents of Labrador City.

Following surveillance at the cabin site, a fish and wildlife enforcement officer arrested the individuals and seized two salmon nets, one measuring 150 feet, an inflatable boat, five Atlantic salmon and three trout.

The 150-foot net was retrieved from the lake by a fish and wildlife enforcement officer with three more salmon which were entangled and either dead or dying. Several more live salmon were released from the net.

Since the commencement of field operations on May 11, officers have laid a total of 94 charges, including 64 for fish-related offences and a further 30 for a range of all-terrain vehicle and wildlife violations. Seizures have included 11 Atlantic salmon, 63 trout, 30 cod fish, four illegal nets and 22 fishing rods.

Budget 2011 Standing Strong: For Prosperity. For Our Future. For Newfoundland and Labrador provided $2.1 million for the establishment of the new Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Division which was previously the Inland Fish Enforcement Division. The expanded division allows for an increased emphasis on special investigations and organized poaching activity such as the illegal netting of salmon, trout and arctic char, along with issues such as jigging and exceeding bag limits.

Suspected poaching activity can be reported anonymously to fish and wildlife enforcement officers 24 hours a day, toll-free at 1-877-820-0999. For more information on fish and wildlife enforcement visit www.stoppoaching.ca

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Photo #1: A Fish and Wildlife Enforcement officer seized two salmon nets, one measuring 150 feet, a cooler, an inflatable boat, a knife, a fish tub, five Atlantic salmon and three trout in a June 27arrest in Deer Lake.

Photo #2: The 150-foot net seized in the June 27 arrest in Deer Lake.

Media contact:
Vanessa Colman-Sadd
Director of Communications
Department of Justice
709-729-6985, 682-6593
vanessacolmansadd@gov.nl.ca

2011 06 30                                                                           10:30 a.m.