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Surveillance flight captures impatient sealers
Total fines $6,500 and loss of pelt profits
CORNER BROOK, NL – Four sealers from southwestern Newfoundland have been convicted of harvesting seals prior to the opening of the 2005 seal fishery in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
On March 28, 2005, a seal fishery surveillance flight was monitoring activity in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, one day prior to the scheduled start of the seal fishery in that area. By means of the air craft’s high-powered photo and video surveillance equipment, a fishery officer recorded four vessels engaged in harvesting harp seals.
When the vessels docked at Port Saunders on March 30, 2005, onboard investigations were initiated by fishery officers of the Rocky Harbour and St. Anthony detachments. A review of the vessels’ logbooks confirmed that a number of seal pelts were harvested by each vessel on the day before the scheduled opening of that fishery.
On June 5, 2006, in Corner Brook Provincial Court, Harlan Warren and Perry Warren, of Margaree, Glen King, of Fox Roost, and Norman King, of Burnt Islands, were found guilty and each fined $1,500.
The illegally harvested pelts were forfeited to the Crown; the total value of the pelts to the fishing enterprises was $9,071.
In addition, Harlan Warren was fined $500 for failing to carry an at-sea observer.
The at-sea observer program places independent, private sector observers aboard fishing vessels to monitor compliance with fisheries regulations. The program also provides data for fisheries management and science.
For more information:
Susan Keough
Communications Officer
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
(709) 772-7628
Sam Whiffen
Communications Officer
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
(709) 772-7631
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