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Fishery officer investigations result in convictions
St. John’s … The captain of the shrimp vessel Micheal J II and the holder of the shrimp licence being fished from the vessel have been convicted of providing false information to a fishery officer.
Trent Roberts of Torbay, the captain of the vessel, and Carl John Shelley of Bonavista, the licence holder, plead guilty in St. John’s provincial court to the charges. Roberts was fined $1,500 and Shelley $1,000.
On April 30, 2003 fishery officers from Ferryland and St. John's inspected the Micheal J II because it was suspected that the captain had misreported the shrimp area fished on the previous trip and had falsified his fishing log.
Fishery officers seized the official fishing log and a rough log, obtained a search warrant and searched the vessel. The hard drive from the navigation computer was copied, and the data retrieved was compared to the fishing logs which confirmed the violation.
Also in court in St. John’s, Douglas Fennelly of Port Kerwin was fined $2,500 for exceeding his snow crab individual quota (IQ). Fennelly’s penalty was higher than most because of previous fisheries violations.
The overrun was detected through a DFO Statistics Branch review of landings in 2003.
Fennelly also appeared on a second separate fishery charge. Fishery officers inspected his boat May 29, 2004 and found 16 lobsters, three of which were less than the legal minimum of 82.5mm. Fennelly was fined $2,000 for possession of undersized lobsters. Again, his prior fisheries violations were taken into account in sentencing.
Three Witless Bay men have each been fined $500 for fishing groundfish during closed time.
David Carter, Morgan Lundrigan and Steven Ranayne were apprehended September 8, 2004 by fishery officers conducting a routine patrol in the Witless Bay area. The fishery officers used a high-powered scope to watch three men fish, clean and land cod fish.
Fishery officers didn’t find fish during an inspection of the vessel, but they did find approximately 30 lbs of fresh cod fillets, two rods and a handline on the beach where they had seen the vessel land. The three men were subcequently charged.
In addition to their fines, the men are also prohibited from recreational fishing in coastal or inland waters for one year. Approximately 30 lbs of cod fillets were ordered forfeited to the Crown.
Harbour Grace
Two Conception Bay North men were convicted in Harbour Grace Provincial Court in February for fishing cod during a closed time, and each fined $1,000.
On December 1, 2004, fishery officers, responding to complaints to Crime Stoppers of illegal cod fishing activity, set up a stakeout between Small Point and Adams Cove. Anthony Judge of Small Point and James Kelloway of Broad Cove were seen leaving Mullay’s Cove and fishing cod for two hours. They were apprehended on their return.
In addition to the fine, a wooden speedboat, a 35 h/p outboard motor and the seized cod were ordered forfeited to the Crown. The two are also prohibited from recreationally fishing in coastal or inland waters for a year.
In other court news, two crab fishermen have been fined for exceeding their individual quotas.
Kevin A. Slaney of Chapel’s Cove, Conception Bay was fined $1,192, while Morgan Piercey of New Harbour, Trinity Bay was fined $1,500.
In each case, the discrepancy was detected by the DFO Statistics Branch while reviewing the figures for the 2002 crab fishery.
David Paul King of Perry’s Cove was convicted in Harbour Grace Provincial Court of fishing cod during a closed time and fined $500.
On November 27, 2003 fishery officers inspected a small boat they had observed fishing off Kingston, Conception Bay. Fishery officers seized 20 cod from the three people on board.
Two of those on board plead guilty in February, 2004, while King plead not guilty. His trial was scheduled for February 3, 2005, at which time he changed his plea to guilty.
Grand Bank
Dion Hynes of Jacques Fontaine has been fined $1,200 for fishing salmon in coastal waters.
Hynes was apprehended June 22, 2004 at Jacques Fontaine after fishery officers watched him set a net in coastal waters. In addition to the fine, Hynes is also prohibited from fishing inland waters for two years.
Jason Rose of Marystown and Joshua Bown of Frederickton, Notre Dame Bay have each convicted of jigging salmon on the Bay de L’eau River in Placentia Bay.
The two were apprehended August 10, 2004 at the Bay de L’eau River. The men were fined $500 on each of three charges, for a total of $1,500 in fines each. They are also prohibited from fishing inland waters for two years.
Glen Hickey of Grand Bank has been fined $2,236 for exceeding his 2003 cod individual quota (IQ). The discrepancy was detected by DFO Statistics staff following a review of landings.
For more information:
Bob Fagan
Communications Officer
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
(709) 772-7627
Kimberley Penney
Communications Officer
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
(709) 772-7629
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