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CENTRAL NEWFOUNDLAND RIVERS TARGETED
Public played role in
detecting, stopping salmon violations
Grand Falls-Windsor … Targeted enforcement efforts and stakeholder involvement in central Newfoundland have resulted in successful convictions for salmon violations.
A special operations team made up of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) fishery officers and fishery guardians have worked co-operatively with stakeholders over the summer to detect and stop poaching. Thanks to tips from concerned citizens and user groups, many charges laid through these investigations have led to successful convictions, while other cases are pending.
Botwood
Albert A. Hillier of Botwood was fined a total of $2,300 for four salmon offences when he appeared in Botwood Provincial Court September 7, 2004. Hillier was fined $1,000 for jigging salmon; $750 for possessing fish caught in contravention of the Fisheries Act; $250 for catching and retaining over the daily quota; and $300 for improperly tagged salmon. He is also prohibited from being within 30 meters of inland waters for two years. Fishing paraphernalia and three salmon were ordered forfeited to the Crown.
Fishery guardians apprehended Hillier July 30, 2004 on Great Rattling Brook. Fishery guardians staking out the area in response to suspected poaching activity observed Hillier and James Brenton of Botwood jigging salmon.
Brenton was fined $1,000 for jigging salmon and $200 for improperly tagged salmon. He is also prohibited from being within 30 meters of inland waters for two years. A rod, reel and line and two salmon were ordered forfeited to the Crown.
Willis Ledrew and Wayne Ledrew of Embree were also convicted of salmon offences which occurred on Great Rattling Brook. They were observed by fishery guardians July 31, 2004 jigging salmon.
Wayne Ledrew was fined $1,000 for jigging, and $200 for improperly tagged salmon, while Willis Ledrew was fined $1,000 for jigging and $300 for improperly tagged salmon. Each is prohibited from being within 30 meters of inland waters for two years, and four salmon and fishing gear were ordered forfeited to the Crown.
Calvin Blake of Peterview was apprehended on Peter’s River August 19, 2004 after being observed by fishery guardians attempting to jig a salmon. He was convicted and fined $800. He was also ordered not to be within 30 meters inland waters for one year.
Gander
Maxwell Goodyear of Deadman’s Bay was fined a total of $1,500 for three salmon violations committed July 7, 2003 on Deadman’s Bay River.
Three fishery guardians set up a surveillance of the river in response to suspected poaching. They observed Goodyear dipping a salmon shortly after arriving at the river. Fishery guardians apprehended the man and subsequently searched his vehicle where a second untagged salmon and a fishing rod were found. Goodyear admitted that the rod was used to catch the salmon, but refused to give it up to fishery guardians. He was then charged with obstruction. He later complied and turned over the rod to fishery guardians.
Goodyear was fined $500 for obstruction, $500 for possession of untagged salmon and $500 for dipnetting salmon. He was prohibited from being within 30 meters of inland waters for one year, and had two salmon, a rod and a dipnet ordered forfeited to the Crown.
Blake Whittle of Lewisporte was fined $1,500 September 13 after being convicted of fishing salmon in coastal waters during a closed time.
On July 9, 2004, fishery officers and fishery guardians from the Twillingate detachment conducted an overnight stakeout in the area known as mussel bed in Lewisporte. They observed Whittle and another individual retrieve their net, set it and come back later and haul it. The stake out was conducted as the result of complaints received.
Another individual charged in the incident pleaded not guilty, and will appear in court later this month. Whittle is prohibited from fishing in coastal and inland waters for two years, and two salmon and a net were ordered forfeited to the Crown.
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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