NR-MAR-05-19E

NOVA SCOTIA MAN RECEIVES FIRST CHARGE IN CANADA UNDER THE SPECIES AT RISK ACT

July 18, 2005

Dartmouth, N.S. - An East Jeddore, Nova Scotia fisherman received the first charge in Canada under the Government of Canada's Species at Risk Act (SARA).

Mr. Ronald Ivan Baker appeared in Dartmouth provincial court Friday July 15 after being charged with the illegal possession of an aquatic species listed under the Species at Risk Act (SARA).

On February 15, Fishery Officers Darrell Comeau and Gary L. MacDonald, conducting a routine investigation of a fishing vessel, seized seven Northern wolffish from Mr. Baker's possession. The Northern wolffish was listed as a threatened species on the list of wildlife species at risk when SARA came into force two years ago.

Mr. Baker pled guilty to possessing an aquatic species listed as threatened under SARA and received a suspended sentence. In receiving a suspended sentence, Mr. Baker has agreed to pay $3,000 to Dalhousie University. This money will be awarded as a scholarship for students enrolled in environmental studies. Mr. Baker must also conform to a number of conditions set out in a probation order issued by Judge Gibson which include keeping a detailed log book of future wolffish catches indicating the number, types and locations of wolffish caught. Mr. Baker must provide this information to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans upon request.

"The Species at Risk Act is intended to protect wildlife species from becoming extinct," said Geoff Regan, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. "But we can only be successful if we all work together to protect species at risk."

SARA makes it an offence to kill, harm, harass, capture, or take species at risk listed in SARA as extirpated, endangered or threatened, without specific authorizations issued under the Act.

"The Government of Canada is committed to protecting Canada's species at risk whether they be on land or in the water," said the Honourable Stéphane Dion, Minister of the Environment. "The Species at Risk Act goes a long way in helping achieve this."

The Species at Risk Act, in force since June 2003, is a key federal government commitment to prevent wildlife species from being extirpated or becoming extinct and secures the necessary actions for the recovery of extirpated, endangered or threatened species. It provides for the legal protection of wildlife species and the conservation of their biological diversity. Three government departments are directly involved in protecting species at risk: Environment Canada, Parks Canada, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Fisheries and Oceans is responsible for aquatic species.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada is highly concerned about illegal fishing activity and calls on the general public to come forward with information they may have on activities of this nature or any contravention of the Fisheries Act and Regulations, or SARA. Any suspicious activity that may cause harm to any aquatic species at risk should be reported to a local fisheries office.

For more information about aquatic species at risk and SARA, visit:
www.aquaticspeciesatrisk.gc.ca or www.speciesatrisk.gc.ca.

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