MONCTON - The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), Gulf Region, revealed the latest sentences imposed by the court in the lobster fishery in New Brunswick.
In Richibucto Provincial Court on October 12, Mr. Nibogtog Francis of the Elsipogtog First Nation was found guilty for possession of undersized lobsters and breaching the condition of the commercial aboriginal licence. For the undersized lobster count, Provincial Court Judge Joseph Michaud imposed a $6,100 fine or 130 days in jail for default of payment. Mr. Francis is also prohibited from fishing for the first 7 days of the 2007 fishing season in LFA 25. On the second count of breach, he was fined $500 or 10 days in jail for default of payment. On the same day in court, he pleaded guilty to a count of obstruction against a fishery officer. Judge Michaud imposed a $1,000 fine or 22 days in jail for default of payment.
In Richibucto Court on October 16, Mr. Nibogtog Francis pleaded guilty for possession of 41 undersized lobsters, an incident dating back to October 2003. Judge Michaud imposed a $4,000 fine or 100 days in jail for default of payment and prohibited from fishing lobster for the first 5 days of the 2007 fishing season in LFA 25.
In Shediac Provincial Court on October 18, 2006, Mr. Omer Duplessis of Bouctouche pleaded guilty for possession of 8 undersized lobsters, contrary to Section 57(2) of the Atlantic Fishery Regulations. The court judge imposed a fine of $800 or 15 days in jail for default of payment.
Mr. Duplessis also received a suspension for the first day of the 2007 lobster fishing season.
Post-season lobster traps retrieval
In the last few weeks, fishery officers from Richibucto and Baie Ste-Anne Detachments and the Shediac satellite office retrieved a total of 1,625 unidentified lobster traps in LFA 25 on the New Brunswick coast from Cap-Lumière to Loggiecroft. Many of the traps retrieved were not been fished for a long period of time and contained dead lobsters or female berried lobsters. Fishery Officers have for the past years undertaken the initiative to be present on wharves before the end of the lobster season reminding fishermen about the importance of retrieving their traps from the water. Leaving lobster traps in the water is irresponsible for the conservation of the resource.
DFO is concerned about the conservation and protection of the lobster resource
in LFA 23 and in the southern Gulf. The Department is encouraging the public to
report all suspicious fishing activities to a local fishery officer or to Crime
Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Michel Thérien
Communications
Fisheries and Oceans Canada,
Gulf Region
506-851-7704
NR-G-06-12E
