CORNER BROOK, NL - Eight men from western Newfoundland and the
Northern Peninsula have been convicted of lobster-related violations.
Paul Stone, Murray Blanchard and Greg Blanchard of Gilliam's were each fined
$500 for possession of undersized lobsters, $1,500 for fishing lobster without a
license and $500 for possession of fish caught in contravention of the
regulations. Mr. Stone's boat and motor were ordered forfeited to the Crown. The
men appeared in Corner Brook Provincial Court.
Fishery officers from the Rocky Harbour Detachment conducted a routine patrol
on April 23, 2006 on the north shore of the Bay of Islands. They apprehended the
individuals offloading their catch. The lobsters seized from the fishers were
released back into the water on the same day.
Also appearing in Corner Book Provincial Court were Leonard Greene of Halfway
Point and Edward Hackett of Benoit's Cove who were each fined $2,000 for
possessing undersized lobsters. In addition to their fines, they were prohibited
from setting gear for one day, ordered to perform 20 hours of volunteer work on
behalf of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and required to attend a public
meeting to apologize for the offences.
Both individuals were apprehended near Coppermine Brook in the Bay of Islands
on May 13, 2006 by fishery officers from the Rocky Harbour Detachment. Fishery
officers were in the area responding to complaints of lobster poaching in the
Bay of Islands. Fourteen lobsters seized were released back into the water on
the same day.
Archibald Park and Clyde Blanchard of McIver's were each fined $1,000 for
possession of undersized lobsters, $1,000 for fishing lobster during a closed
time, and were placed on probation for one year. Mr Blanchard's wooden dory was
ordered forfeited to the Crown. The convictions were handed down in Corner Brook
Provincial Court.
On October 24, 2005, fishery officers from the Rocky Harbour Detachment
conducted a stake-out near McIver's, where they observed two individuals hauling
lobster pots a short distance from shore. They were subsequently apprehended
when they returned to shore.
Elgin Baxter Chambers of Blue Cove was fined $500 for possession of four
V-notched lobsters when he appeared in St. Anthony Provincial Court. On May 17,
2006, fishery officers from the St. Anthony Detachment conducted a routine
inspection at a buying station in Plum Point and discovered four V-notched
lobsters belonging to Mr. Chambers. He was subsequently charged and the
V-notched lobsters were released back into the ocean.
V-notching is a voluntarily practice amongst commercial lobster fishers where
one in four egg-bearing female lobsters is notched with a special tool that cuts
a V shape from the section of the tail fan. The lobster is then carefully
returned to the water. V-notching remains clearly visible for several years, and
allows the female to grow larger, spawn several times and produce more and
better quality eggs. It is illegal to retain undersized and V-notched lobsters.
Failing to arrange for dockside monitoring
Clifford Mitchelmore of Green Island Cove was fined $250 for offloading his catch of cod without a dockside observer present when he appeared in St. Anthony Provincial Court.
Mr. Mitchelmore was apprehended in Green Island Cove on July 20, 2006 by a fishery officer from the St. Anthony Detachment conducting a routine patrol of the 4R commercial cod fishery. He was observed offloading his catch, despite not making arrangements for dockside monitoring. His catch of 211 lbs was seized and ordered forfeited to the Crown. Fishing regulations require catches to be offloaded in the presence of a dockside observer.
Obstructing a fishery guardian while jigging salmon
Tyrone Patey of Port Saunders was fined $150 for jigging salmon in scheduled inland waters and an additional $150 for obstructing a fishery guardian. Mr. Patey was also placed on probation for 18 months and ordered to provide 80 hours of community service. He is prohibited from applying for or purchasing any type of fishing licence, with the exception of a commercial seal licence, and is prohibited from engaging in any type of fishing activity unless it is in conjunction with his employment or a commercial enterprise. The ruling was handed down at Port au Choix Provincial Court.
On August 25, 2006, fishery guardians from the Rocky Harbour Detachment apprehended and charged Mr. Patey after observing him jigging salmon on Big East River in Hawkes Bay. Mr. Patey was charged with obstruction when he tried to prevent fishery guardians from seizing his fishing rod. Two Atlantic salmon and a three-claw jigger seized were ordered forfeited to the Crown.
Seal hunt violations
Benedict Gould of Port au Choix was fined $1,000 for failing to submit a daily hail while sealing. He was fined an additional $600 for failing to complete daily logbook entries before entering port.
On April 7, 2006, fishery officers from the Rocky Harbour Detachment conducted a routine inspection of Mr. Gould's sealing vessel as he was unloading his catch of harp seals. The fishery officers noticed that Mr. Gould did not hail in his catch of 996 seals or enter his catch in his logbook before entering port for the second day of sealing.
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-06-46E
