January 25, 2010
NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR – Provincial courts recently convicted seven individuals of fishing offences following investigations by fishery officers from Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) detachments in Twillingate and Springdale.
- On November 9, 2009, in provincial court at Gander, Jack Rowe of Seldom, Fogo Island, was convicted of fishing Greenland halibut during a closed time. He was fined $2000 and his catch, valued at $14,254 was forfeited by the court. On June 26, 2008 fishery officers boarded the vessel Challenger 2001 and discovered the infraction.
- On November 3, 2009, in provincial court at Springdale, Terry Fudge of Brighton was convicted of failing to release an Atlantic salmon from his herring bait net and obstructing a fishery officer. Mr. Fudge was fined $1750 and prohibited from fishing in coastal or inland waters for 18 months. Fishery officers and a fishery guardian observed Mr. Fudge retain a salmon from his herring net and when approached by the officers, he attempted to dispose of the salmon by returning it to the water.
- On October 26 and November 5, 2009, in provincial court at Grand Falls-Windsor, Rodney Coombs of Point Leamington was convicted of possessing improperly tagged salmon, retaining an oversized salmon and jigging in inland waters. He was fined $1750 and his catch, rod and reel were forfeited by the court. On July 2, 2009 fishery guardians were conducting a patrol of the Point Leamington River and observed the violations.
- On November 3, 2009, in provincial court at Springdale, Frank Whalen and Leonard Whalen of Pilley's Island were both fined $1200 for fishing Atlantic salmon during a closed time. The court ordered Mr. Whalen's boat and gillnet to be forfeited. On May 29, 2009 fishery officers from the Springdale and Goose Bay detachments observed the violation near Pilley's Island.
- On November 4, 2009, in provincial court at Baie Verte, Thomas Sullivan of Brent's Cove, White Bay, was convicted of fishing mackerel during a closed time. Mr. Sullivan was fined $600 and his catch, net and anchor were forfeited by the court. On August 7, 2009 fishery officers from the Springdale detachment were conducting coastal patrol near Brent's Cove and observed the violation.
- On November 18, 2009, in provincial court at Gander, Harvey Card of Twillingate was convicted of setting fishing gear not marked with a commercial fishing vessel (CFV) number and was fined $500. On September 17, 2008 fishery officers on routine boat patrol in Notre Dame Bay discovered the unmarked gillnets belonging to Mr. Card.
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
