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Fisher fined $1,100 for fishing cod out of season
St. John’s… Murdock Harnum, Whiteway, Trinity Bay, was fined $1,100 in provincial court in St. John’s on March 14, 2006, for fishing cod during a closed time.
On November 14, 2005, fishery officers from the Bay Roberts Detachment were conducting a covert patrol of coastal waters in Trinity Bay when they observed Mr. Harnum fishing from a small boat using handlines.
Fishery officers approached the boat as it landed at the wharf in Whiteway. An inspection of the vessel found a number of groundfish handlines, squid handlines, and mackerel cut for bait. A further investigation of the adjacent area uncovered two live Atlantic cod concealed in a plastic shopping bag.
Fines for violating condition of licence
Two fishers have been convicted of failing to carry out conditions of their fishing licences in separate cases in Harbour Grace Provincial Court on March 3, 2006.
Randall Drover, Upper Island Cove, was fined $400 for failing to submit fishing logs, a condition of his 2005 Snow crab licence.
Fishery officers from the Bay Roberts Detachment initiated an investigation following a referral from the statistics branch of Fisheries and Oceans Canada that Mr. Drover did not submit his 2005 fishing logs and had failed to respond to a subsequent written request.
Fishing logs contain recorded information on catch rates and quotas, which provide important stock monitoring data, used in fisheries management and conservation measures.
Bernard Noonan, of Bay de Verde, was fined $450 for failure to comply with the conditions of his 2005 winter flounder licence.
On August 8, 2005, a fishery observer was conducting an at-sea, routine inspection aboard Mr. Noonan’s small fishing vessel. The observer reported that Mr. Noonan had set gill nets without attaching the required tags to the head ropes of the nets. The tags identify the fisher and also track the number of nets in use. The charge was laid following an investigation of the incident by fishery officers from the Bay Roberts Detachment.
Attempt to jig salmon hooks fine
On August 16, 2005, fishery guardians of the Clarenville Detachment were carrying out routine surveillance of Middle Brook, near Gambo, when they witnessed Walter Norman, of St. John’s, attempting to jig salmon using fly fishing gear.
Mr. Norman was fined $300 in Gander Provincial Court on March 8, 2006,
Fisheries and Oceans Canada would like to remind the public that buying or possessing illegally caught salmon and cod is a crime and punishable by law. We appreciate your support in the conservation of these resources.
For more information:
Sam Whiffen
Communications Officer
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
(709) 772-7631
Susan Keough
Communications Officer
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
(709) 772-7628
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