September 2, 2009
NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR - Provincial courts in Newfoundland and Labrador recently convicted three individuals for violating federal fisheries regulations.
In provincial court at Gander on May 12, 2009, Barry Nichol of Fogo was convicted of fishing with a vessel not identified in his licence. Mr. Nichol was fined $200. On September 27, 2008 after reviewing a dockside monitoring report, fishery officers from the Twillingate detachment determined that the commercial fishing vessel number reported in Mr. Nichol's fishing logbook did not match the commercial fishing vessel number of the vessel from which he fished.
In provincial court at Gander on May 19, 2009, Scott Paul Heath of Seldom was convicted of fishing for Greenland halibut during a closed time as well as failing to submit a fishing logbook as part of his licence conditions. Mr. Heath was fined $2000.
On June 28, 2008, Mr. Heath was apprehended as a result of an investigation by fishery officers from the Twillingate detachment.
In provincial court at Baie Verte on June 17, 2009, Danny Dicks of Green Bay was convicted of failing to hail in his entire catch of seals during the 2008 seal harvest and was subsequently fined $400.
Following the 2008 seal harvest, fishery officers from the Springdale detachment compared Mr. Dicks' hail in report to the purchase slips from his seals and found he had sold 470 seals but only hailed in 330 seals.
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 by 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
