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Justice
November 1, 2011

Inland Fish Violations Result in $13,000 in Fines

Investigations by fish and wildlife enforcement officers with the Department of Justice have resulted in the conviction of three individuals for violations under the Fisheries Act for the illegal netting of Atlantic salmon.

An individual from Happy Valley-Goose Bay appeared in Provincial Court in Gander on October 25 and was fined $4,000 for illegally fishing salmon with a net, and $1,000 for fishing during closed time. The individual has 18 months to pay the fines and is prohibited from fishing in inland waters or within 30 metres of coastal waters for three years. This stems from an investigation and surveillance conducted by fish and wildlife enforcement officers in the Little Burnt Bay area on August 16 as a result of information received from the public.

As well, two individuals have pleaded guilty to the charge of fishing with a net in inland waters. Both individuals, one from Scarborough, Ontario, and the other from Wareham, Trinity Bay, received sentences of $4,000 each with 12 months to pay. They are prohibited from fishing in inland waters or being within 30 metres of coastal waters for three years. Their net was also forfeited to the Crown. Fish and wildlife enforcement officers, acting upon information from the public, observed both men on July 21 setting a net in North West Brook near the community of Trinity. They were arrested at the scene and later released to appear in court.

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

2011 11 01                               10:40 a.m.

 
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