ST. JOHN'S, NL – Mr. Clarence Foley of St. Bride's was fined $500 on February 21, 2008 in St. John's Provincial Court for fishing turbot during a closed time. In addition, $26,676.86, which represented the market value of the seized catch, was forfeited to the Crown.
On August 20, 2007 fishery officers from the Placentia Detachment investigated Mr. Foley and determined he fished Greenland Halibut (Turbot) from his vessel "Night Stalker" in NAFO Area 3O during a closed time. As well, two landings of turbot and associated bycatch retained after the August 6, 2007 closure date were seized.
Mr. Keith Walsh, Mr. Patrick Harry Walsh and Mr. Eugene Walsh, all of St. John's, were convicted in St. John's Provincial Court of fishing without a licence and obstruction of a fishery officer. On February 20, 2008, Mr. Keith Walsh was fined $250 and $500 respectively for each offence.
On August 27, 2007, Mr. Eugene Walsh was fined $1,000 and Mr. Patrick Harry Walsh $250 for fishing without a licence. Both individuals received one day in jail plus probation, nine and twelve months respectively, for obstruction of a fishery officer. Mr. Eugene Walsh was also fined $719.55, which represented the value of the fish caught, and forfeited two gillnets to the Crown.
On August 24, 2006 fishery officers from the Bay Roberts Detachment inspected Eugene Walsh's vessel "Melva" during the 3KL Stewardship cod fishery. The three individuals in the vessel obstructed fishery officers while they conducted an inspection. The inspection revealed that Mr. Eugene Walsh did not have a valid licence and, therefore, was not authorized to fish.
Placentia
Mr. Maxwell Murphy of Dildo was fined $1000 on February 12, 2008 in Placentia Provincial Court for landing cod without a dockside observer present. In addition, $28.84, which represented the market value of the cod seized, was forfeited to the Crown.
On October 26, 2007 fishery officers from the Placentia Detachment determined Mr. Murphy landed cod that was not monitored by a dockside observer.
Grand Bank
Mr. James Drake of Lawn was convicted on February 14, 2008 in Grand Bank Provincial Court of possession of undersized lobster, possession of female v-notched lobster and failing to take an observer. He was fined $1000 for each offence and was prohibited from fishing lobster for the first five days of the 2008 lobster fishing season. He was also fined $2000 for being employed in his fishing enterprise while a designation was in place. In addition to the fines, Mr. Drake received six months probation. All lobster seized were released alive.
On April 23, 2007, fishery officers from the Marystown Detachment instructed Mr. Drake to take an observer on his next fishing trip; however, on April 26, 2007 he went fishing without an observer.
On June 15, 2007, fishery officers from the Marystown Detachment while on patrol in Placentia Bay, inspected Mr. Drake's lobster boat and discovered one undersized lobster and two female-v-notched lobster in his catch. Further investigation revealed a designated operator was in place for his fishing enterprise.
As a condition of licence, individuals who receive designations must not be employed outside the fishery or involved in the fishery during the designation period either on their own or on any other fishing enterprise.
Mr. Russell Frederick Farrell of Port aux Basques was fined $1500 on January 30, 2008 in Grand Bank Provincial Court for exceeding his allowable snow crab quota and fined $1000 for failing to offload all catch onboard. He received an additional fine of $1666.50, which represented the value of the excess crab.
On April 16, 2007, fishery officers from the Marystown Detachment investigated Mr. Farrell and determined that on April 14, 2007 he exceeded his allowable quota of crab in crab fishing area 10 (southern Newfoundland) by 1,010 lbs.
During the offloading of his vessel "Fishin Addiction" on April 14, 2007 in St. Lawrence, Mr. Farrell ordered the crew to stop offloading crab and was charged with failing to offload all catch onboard once offloading had commenced.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Susan Keough
Communications Officer
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
(709) 772-7628
