NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR – Provincial courts recently convicted four individuals of fishery offences following investigations by fishery officers from DFO detachments in Marystown and Bay Roberts.
On April 6, 2009 in provincial court at Grand Bank, Wade O’Keefe of Fox Cove and Derrick Brown of Marystown were convicted of fishing Atlantic salmon in coastal waters during a closed time. Both men received a fine of $2500 and prohibition from participating in the inland fishery for one year. Mr. O’Keefe’s boat, boat trailer, catch and fishing gear were forfeited. Convictions were a result of an investigation by fishery officers from the Marystown detachment with the assistance of conservation officers from the province’s Inland Fish Enforcement Program.
On January 21, 2009 in provincial court at Harbour Grace, Clayton Warren of Chapel Arm was convicted of transporting capelin without a transport licence. Mr. Warren was fined $500 and forfeited his catch. On July 16, 2008 fishery officers from the Bay Roberts detachment observed Mr. Warren’s violation while on coastal patrol in Trinity Bay.
On March 12, 2009 in provincial court at St. John’s, Gary Picco of Portugal Cove was fined $750 for possession of a female v-notched lobster. The v-notched lobster was forfeited. On June 28, 2008, fishery officers from the Bay Roberts detachment inspected Mr. Picco’s lobster holding crate and discovered the violation.
V-notching is a voluntarily practice amongst commercial lobster harvesters where one in four egg-bearing female lobsters is given a V-shaped cut in a section of the tail fan. The lobster is then carefully returned to the water. A V-notch remains 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 or V-notched lobsters.
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 calling 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-09-25
