Three Men From Newfoundland Convicted for Illegal Selling and Trading of Migratory Birds

PORT AUX BASQUES, Newfoundland, March 2, 2006 - Three men from Newfoundland were sentenced in Provincial court on February 28^th, 2006, for offences under the federal Migratory Birds Convention Act.

Clifford George Dingwell, 60 years old, was charged with three counts under Section 12 (1) of the Migratory Bird Regulations for selling (or offering to sell) migratory birds, namely Turrs. He was fined $1,300 and received three years of probation, during which time he is not allowed to apply for or use a migratory bird permit; is prohibited from hunting or being in the company of anyone hunting migratory birds; and is not allowed to own, possess or consume any Turrs on his property. In addition, a 20-foot fibreglass boat, two outboard motors, three shotguns, a quantity of shotgun ammunition as well as a number of other items seized associated with the investigation, were forfeited to the Crown.

Darrell J. Neil, 32 years old, was charged with two counts under Section 12 (1) of the Migratory Bird Regulations for the illegal trading of migratory birds. He received a $500 fine and two years of probation with the same conditions as Mr. Dingwell.

Dennis G. Stone, 36 years old, received a suspended sentence for a violation under Section 12 (1) of the Migratory Bird Regulations for the illegal trading of migratory birds and one year of probation with the same conditions as Mr. Dingwell.

These charges were laid as the result of a three-year investigation led by Environment Canada’s Canadian Wildlife Service into the illegal hunting, selling and trading of migratory birds on the Southwest coast of Newfoundland.

The investigation was a joint operation with the Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Natural Resources. The individuals were apprehended in April 2005 with the assistance of officers from the Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Natural Resources, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland Region.

For further information, please contact :

Ken Tucker
Environment Canada’s Canadian Wildlife Service
Atlantic Region
(709) 535-0601