May 28, 2010
NEWFOUNDLANDANDLABRADOR – Provincial courts convicted four individuals of fishing offences after investigations by fishery officers from Fisheries and Oceans Canada detachments in Twillingate and Springdale.
- On November 24, 2009, in provincial court at Gander, Benjamin Stagg of Cape Freels was convicted of setting his herring net too close to the surface of the water. Mr. Stagg was fined $500. One herring net, valued at $100 was forfeited by the court. On June 25, 2009, during a vessel patrol of the Cape Freels area, a fishery officer observed a herring net with Mr. Stagg's Vessel Registration Number on top of the water. Herring bait nets are supposed to be six feet below the surface of the water when the commercial herring fishery is closed.
- On February 24, 2010, in provincial court at Gander, Stephen Rowe of Fogo Island was convicted for providing false information in his fishing log book. Mr. Rowe was fined $1500. His catch, valued at $4187, was forfeited by the court. On June 29, 2008, fishery officers boarded the vessel Atlantic Sound at Carmanville and discovered the infraction. Mr. Rowe had offloaded 65,058 pounds of turbot, but reported 40,000 pounds in his log book.
- On March 26, 2010, in provincial court at Corner Brook, Rick Wells of Jackson's Arm was convicted of exceeding his daily trip limit of capelin. Mr. Wells was fined $300. On July 13, 2008, fishery officers discovered that Mr. Wells catch was 68,124 pounds. This exceeded his daily trip limit of 55,000 pounds.
- On March 30, 2010, in provincial court at Baie Verte, Chesley Mitchell of Woodstock, White Bay was convicted of exceeding his quota during the 2008 commercial cod fishery. Mr. Mitchell was fined $500 and given a clawback of $280, representing the value of his exceeded catch. In the spring of 2009, fishery officers reviewed Mr. Mitchell's catch for 2008 and discovered the violation.
Commercial, Aboriginal and recreational fishing is an important part of community life and the economy of Newfoundland and Labrador.
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For more information:
Lisa Lawlor,
Communications Officer
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
(709) 772-7628
NR-NL-10-10
