GRAND BANK, NL - Martin Fitzpatrick and Eric Edwards of Lord's Cove were each fined $5,000 for netting salmon in inland waters when they appeared in Grand Bank Provincial Court.
In addition to their fines, both individuals are prohibited from fishing in inland or coastal waters for two years. Confiscated items, including a 2004 ATV, fishing gear, salmon and trout, were ordered forfeited to the Crown.
On July 10, 2006, fishery guardians from the Marystown Detachment were conducting an inland patrol on Taylor's Bay River on the Burin Peninsula when they located two illegally set salmon nets. Fishery guardians conducted an overnight surveillance of the area and videotaped two individuals hauling the illegally set nets in the early morning hours of July 11, 2006. Both individuals were subsequently charged.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) reminds the public that buying or possessing illegally caught salmon is a crime and punishable in a court of law.
Snow crab overrun
Andrew Hillier of Garnish has been fined $1,000 for exceeding his 2005 snow crab quota. He was also required to repay an additional $1,457, which was the value of the overrun.
The violation was detected by fishery officers from the Marystown Detachment as part of the annual review of catch data. Mr. Hillier exceeded the exploratory quota in crab fishing area 10X by 911 lbs.
Unauthorized use of vessel
Keith and Ethel Grandy of Garnish were each fined $500 for using a vessel not authorized by DFO.
Both individuals were apprehended near the Brown's Harbour area on June 11, 2005 by a fishery officer and a fishery guardian from the Marystown Detachment. The officers were conducting a coastal patrol when they observed two individuals hauling lobster pots. Both individuals had a lobster licence, but a condition of their license required them to fish using different vessels. In this case, both were using the same vessel.
Exceeding daily trout limit
Calvin Osbourne of Bay L'Argent was fined $250 for exceeding his daily trout limit. Fishing equipment and 16 trout seized at the time of the inspection was ordered forfeited to the Crown.
On June 3, 2006, fishery guardians from the Marystown Detachment were conducting an inland patrol when they observed Mr. Osbourne angling near Grandy's Pond. An inspection of his catch revealed that he had exceeded his daily trout limit.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Kim Penney
Communications Officer
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
709 -772-7629
Larry Vaters
Communications Officer
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
709 -772-7633
NR-NL-06-42E
