April 9, 2009
GRAND BANK, NL - Three fish harvesters have been convicted of violating federal fishery regulations following investigations by Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
In provincial court at Grand Bank on February 3, 2009, Loyola and Randy Fitzpatrick of Fortune were convicted of violating snow crab fishery regulations. Loyola Fitzpatrick was fined $1000 for allowing another harvester to use his vessel without authorization as required under fishing licence conditions. Randy Fitzpatrick was fined $1500 and forfeited his catch valued at over $1300 for fishing in an unauthorized vessel and for offloading snow crab without a dockside observer present.
During a vessel patrol of Fortune Bay, fishery officers from the Marystown detachment cross-referenced the identification number of a vessel with its fishing gear. The investigation revealed that Randy Fitzpatrick violated fishing licence conditions by using Loyola Fitzpatrick’s vessel to fish snow crab and transferred the catch to his vessel to bring ashore.
In provincial court at Grand Bank on January 21, 2009 Elias Clark of Little Bay East was fined $250 and forfeited his fishing gear after being convicted of exceeding the daily catch limit during the 2008 recreational groundfish fishery.
Fishery officers from the Marystown detachment observed Mr. Clark on October 1, 2008 catch and retain more than the daily limit of five groundfish.
DFO is committed to the conservation and protection of marine resources in Newfoundland and Labrador. Anyone wishing to report suspicious fishing activities may do so by contacting their nearest DFO office or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION
Sam Whiffen,
Communications Officer
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
(709) 772-7631
NR-NL-09-17E
