Investigations conducted by Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Officers have resulted in fines and prohibitions related to illegal hunting.

On October 1 at Provincial Court in Harbour Grace, an individual was convicted and fined $1,000 for illegal possession of big game, and prohibited from applying for a big game licence for a period of five years. The conviction stems from an investigation Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Officers conducted in May after receiving information about a poached moose near the North Harbour highway Route 92. A search warrant of a residence in the Town of Branch recovered a quantity of meat that matched DNA samples taken from the kill site.

Also on October 1 at Provincial Court in Harbour Grace, an individual was convicted and fined $1,000 for taking more than one moose on a big game licence, and has been prohibited from holding a big game licence for five years. In addition to the fine, a gun and ammunition were forfeited. The conviction stems from January 2017 when an officer patrolling on snowmobile in the Peak Pond area discovered two moose that had been shot and abandoned, and then encountered five individuals with another moose that had been shot and tagged. Through forensic analysis of bullets recovered from the carcasses, officers matched a firearm to one of the animals that had been shot and abandoned.

On October 2 at Provincial Court in Gander, an individual was convicted for fishing violations, including fishing during closed time and angling by means other than the set method, and fined $200 on each count. Seized items were forfeited to the Crown. The convictions resulted from an investigation conducted after a Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Officer observed the individual angling in scheduled waters during closed season.

On October 24 at Provincial Court in Gander, an individual was convicted of netting inland waters and possession of fish caught in contravention. The individual was fined $3,000 for the netting violation and $1,000 for the illegal possession, and was also prohibited from fishing for a period of five years. A second individual was fined $2,000 for netting in inland waters and $1,000 for illegal possession, and also received a three-year prohibition from fishing. Items seized during the investigation, including a gill net, five Atlantic salmon, and 15 brook trout, were forfeited.

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is committed to protecting the province’s resources and ensuring they remain available for those who respect legislation concerning the proper management and conservation of fish and wildlife. The public can play a significant role in assisting officers by reporting any suspicious activity. This can be done anonymously and toll-free at any time by calling 1-877-820-0999 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS. Anonymous online reports can also be submitted at www.stoppoaching.ca  or www.nlcrimestoppers.com .

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Media contact
Linda Skinner
Fisheries and Land Resources
709-637-2284, 632-8167
lindaskinner@gov.nl.ca