ANTIGONISH – The Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) announced
today the latest sentences imposed to individuals for violating the fishery regulations.
Snow crab - Mr. John Bernard Sutherland of Cheticamp, NS, pleaded guilty
in Port Hood Provincial Court on October 30, on two counts of illegal snow crab
fishing activities dating back to 2006.
Fishery officers, using the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS), laid charges against
him in 2007 for hauling snow crab gear that belonged to other fish harvesters, contrary
to Subsection 56(1) of the Atlantic Fishery Regulations, 1985, and entering false
entries in a snow crab logbook, contrary to Subsection 22(7) of the Fishery General
Regulations. Provincial Court Judge
John Embree imposed a fine of $3,500 for hauling the illegal snow crab gear and
a $500 fine for the logbook false entries.
VMS involves the monitoring of fishing vessels for the purpose of identifying
their location. Installed on a vessel and integrated with GPS, it automatically
transmits at pre-determined intervals, a signal with a position and other information
to a satellite-based communication system. VMS has been implemented in the snow
crab fishery in 2005.
Striped bass - Mr. Bruce MacKinnon of Inverness, NS, pleaded guilty in Port
Hood Provincial Court on October 30, for illegal striped bass fishing. In August
2007, fishery officers laid charges against him for fishing and retaining striped
bass during a closed time, contrary to Subsection 91(a) of the Maritime Provinces Fishery Regulations. Judge John Embree imposed
a fine of $750 for his illegal fishing activities.
DFO is committed to the conservation and protection of aquatic resources in all
Canadian waters, including the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence. Anyone wishing to
report suspicious fishing activity is asked to either contact their nearest DFO
office, to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or to call the Canadian Coast Guard
Regional Operations Centre at 1-800-565-1633.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
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Michel Thérien
Communications Branch
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Gulf Region
506-851-7704
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NR-G-07-09E |
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