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OTTAWA – Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has started consultations on an initiative that would allow fishery officers to issue tickets for certain minor offences under the Fisheries Act and its regulations. These consultations focus on Eastern and Northern Canada.
Under the proposal, ticketing would be phased in over the next few years as a method for enforcing the Fisheries Act, in addition to the methods already in use, such as warnings and the laying of charges
The process would be comparable to ticketing for motor vehicle violations. A person who receives a ticket could opt to pay the fine indicated on the ticket to avoid a court appearance or could choose to appear in court to contest the ticket.
Consultations have already begun with several groups representing fisheries resource users and will continue through the spring.
The DFO initiative proposes to phase in the use of tickets under the Contraventions Act for certain minor offences set out in the Atlantic Fishery Regulations, 1985, and the Fishery (General) Regulations as soon as possible. Under the proposal, fishery officers would be able to use the tickets to enforce these regulations in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Quebec. In Newfoundland and Labrador, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, ticketing would only be implemented after an agreement for the use of the Contraventions Act regime is reached with the provincial or territorial government.
The Atlantic Fishery Regulations, 1985, and the Fishery (General) Regulations apply to various recreational and commercial fishing activities in the tidal waters of the Atlantic provinces, the Arctic Ocean, Hudson Strait, as well as freshwater within the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. The regulations set out fishing quotas, close times, gear and fishing licence restrictions and contain other measures for the conservation and sound management of marine resources.
DFO is seeking public comments on the appropriateness of the offences listed and the proposed fine schedules. This information can be obtained on the DFO website at
http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/media/infocus/2004/20040504_e.htm .
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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
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Michel Therien
Communications Officer
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Gulf Fisheries Centre,
343 University Ave,
Moncton, N.B., E1C 9B6
(506) 851-7704
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Wendy Williams
Communications Officer
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Marine House,
176 Portland St.,
Dartmouth, N.S., B2Y 4T3
(902) 426-3550 |
Robert Fagan
Communications Officer
Fisheries and Oceans Canada,
Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre
White Hills,
P.O. Box 5667,
St. John’s, NL, A1C 5X1
(709) 772-7627 |
Michel Plamondon
Communications Officer
Fisheries and Oceans Canada,
104 Dalhousie St.,
Room 25, Mail Stop: QBC,
Québec, Québec, G1K 7Y7
(418) 648-5419 |
Andrea Cyr,
Communications Officer
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Central and Arctic Region
201 Front St. N., Suite 703,
Sarnia, Ontario, N7T 8B1
(519) 383-1830 |
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NR-HQ-04-44E |
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