December 4, 2009
NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR – Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) investigations recently resulted in the conviction of four individuals for snow crab and lobster violations.
On September 30, 2009 in provincial court at Grand Bank, Ralph Monster of Fortune was convicted of possession of undersized snow crab. Mr. Monster was fined $1,000 and 1,062 pounds of snow crab, valued at over $675, was forfeited by the court. On June 7, 2008 fishery officers from the Marystown detachment inspected a sample of Mr. Monster’s snow crab catch and determined that a large percentage of the catch was undersized.
In provincial court at Harbour Grace on September 8, 2009, Robert Ellis Jr. of Hants Harbour was convicted with possession of v-notched lobsters and fined $1,000. On June 25, 2009 fishery officers from the Bay Roberts detachment found three v-notched lobsters during an inspection of lobster holding pens in the Hants Harbour area. The v-notched lobsters were photographed and released.
On September 9, 2009 in provincial court at Placentia, Gregory Careen of Branch, St. Mary’s Bay was fined $500 for fishing snow crab without an operational vessel monitoring system (VMS). On April 26, 2009 fishery officers from the Placentia detachment conducted an inspection of Mr. Careen’s fishing vessel offloading snow crab in Branch. The fisheries officers determined that the vessel’s VMS was not operational for a 26-day period that Mr. Careen had fished snow crab.
On September 14, 2009 in provincial court at Harbour Grace, Herbert Cooper of Old Perlican was fined $450 for possession of undersized lobster. On May 13, 2009 fishery officers from the Bay Roberts detachment were on routine patrol in Old Perlican and inspected Mr. Cooper’s lobster holding crate and discovered the undersized lobsters.
DFO is committed to the conservation and protection of lobster and snow crab 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
