NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR – Provincial courts recently convicted four individuals of fishery offences following investigations by fishery officers from Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) detachments in Bay Roberts and Marystown.
On July 6, 2009 in provincial court at Harbour Grace, Glenn Reid of Dildo was fined $1,000 for fishing seals without the supervision of a professional sealer.
On May 29, 2009, while on coastal patrol in Trinity Bay, fishery officers from the Bay Roberts detachment conducted an inspection of a speedboat belonging to Mr. Reid and determined he was the holder of an assistant sealing licence. Under licence conditions Mr. Reid could only hunt for seals while under the direct supervision of a person holding a professional sealing licence.
On July 6, 2009 in provincial court at Harbour Grace, Charles Barrett of Old Perlican was convicted of fishing with lobster traps without valid tags attached to the traps and fined $500.
While on coastal patrol in Cook's Harbour on May 13, 2009, fishery officers from the Bay Roberts detachment inspected a number of lobster traps, eight of which did not have tags attached. An investigation determined that these traps belonged to Mr. Barrett.
On July 6, 2009 in provincial court at Harbour Grace, Wade Nippard of Harbour Grace, was convicted of angling during a closed time and fined $100.
On July 29, 2009 in provincial court at Grand Bank, John Freeborn of Harbour Mille, was convicted of possession of Atlantic salmon and was fined $500. Furthermore, one Atlantic salmon was forfeited by the crown.
On July 3, 2009, fishery officers inspected Mr. Freeborn's fishing vessel after fishery guardians from the Marystown detachment observed him retain an Atlantic salmon from a cod trap.
Conservation measures exist to protect and rebuild fish stocks so that these sustainable fishing resources can be enjoyed by communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador for generations to come. Anyone wishing to report suspicious fishing activities may do so by contacting their nearest DFO office or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
- 30 -
For more information:
Sam Whiffen, Communications Officer
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
(709) 772-7631
NR-NL-09-36
