Joint Operation between Fish and Wildlife Enforcement and DFO Fishery Guardians Results in Arrest

A joint operation involving provincial fish and wildlife enforcement officers with the Department of Justice and federal fisheries guardians with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has dismantled an illegal netting operation in Green Bay. The investigation, which was in response to complaints of poaching activity, spanned several weeks and involved a team of officers conducting surveillance operations.

On July 9, 2012, a 51-year-old man from the Town of South Brook, Green Bay, was arrested for netting salmon in coastal waters. The individual faces a number of charges under the federal Fisheries Act. As a result of the investigation officers seized a 12-foot aluminium boat, an illegal gill net and 19 salmon. Only two of the salmon were under the legal retention size of 63 centimetres. The other salmon averaged about eight pounds with some exceeding 12 pounds.

Poaching seriously impacts healthy salmon populations as it prevents salmon from entering river systems to spawn. Information provided from the public in addition to good intelligence has led to successful operations for both the Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Division of the Department of Justice and DFO.

The public can play an important role in catching poachers by anonymously reporting suspected poaching activity 24-hours a day, toll-free to either CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, or Fish and Wildlife Enforcement at 1-877-820-0999. Anonymous online reports can also be submitted at www.stoppoaching.ca or www.nlcrimestoppers.com .

Photo#1: Items seized on July 9, 2012.

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

2012 07 23             10:25 a.m.