Environment Canada: Atlantic Region News Releases

Newfoundland company pleads guilty to illegal disposal of fish waste

St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, November 12, 2003 - Dandy Dan’s Fish Market Limited of Ship Harbour, Newfoundland has pleaded guilty to a charge of illegal ocean disposal of fish offal. The Provincial Court judge ordered Dandy Dan’s to contribute $1,500 to the federal government’s Environmental Damages Fund, and to pay a $250 fine.

Environment Canada laid the charges as the result of a routine inspection on July 10th, 2002. An Environment Canada inspector discovered that a fish plant being operated by Dandy Dan’s Fish Market Limited had illegally disposed of fish offal and that there was fish offal in the inter-tidal zone in front of the fish plant.

The Ocean Disposal provisions of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) control the disposal of all materials in Canada’s oceans and help ensure that any disposal is done in an environmentally responsible manner.

The money awarded to the Environmental Damages Fund because of this successful prosecution will be used to fund local environmental projects. The Fund ensures polluters take responsibility for their actions, and gives courts a way to guarantee that money from pollution fines and settlements is directly invested to repair the actual harm done by the pollution.

Environment Canada's Enforcement staff investigates potential pollution offences under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) and the Canada’s Fisheries Act. They help ensure that companies, government employees, and the public comply with legislation and regulations that protect Atlantic Canada's environment.

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For further information contact:

Neil Codner
Investigator
Environment Canada
(709) 772-2065