|
GRAND FALLS-WINDSOR, NL – Arthur Pierce of Harbour Breton was convicted in Grand Falls-Windsor Provincial Court on February 26, 2007, of violating a lobster conservation measure and interfering with an investigation by fishery officers.
Mr. Pierce was fined $1,000 for having V-notched female lobsters in his possession, $250 for attempting to destroy evidence during the investigation and ordered prohibited from fishing lobster for the first five days of the 2007 lobster season. His catch of lobster was forfeited to the Crown.
On June 14, 2006, fishery officers from the Harbour Breton office were conducting a patrol in the Connaigre Bay area and observed Mr. Pierce lobster fishing from an open boat. When approached, Mr. Pierce proceeded to discard lobsters from his vessel. The investigation determined he was in procession of V-notched female lobsters.
V-notching is a voluntarily practice amongst commercial lobster fishers where one in four egg-bearing female lobsters is notched with a special tool that cuts a V shape from the section of the tail fan. The lobster is then carefully returned to the water. V-notching remains clearly visible for several years, and allows the female to grow larger, spawn several times and produce more and better quality eggs. It is illegal to retain undersized and V-notched lobsters.
Fines for fishing cod during a closed time
In St. John’s Provincial Court on February 27, 2007, two men from New Harbour, Trinity Bay, were each fined $100 for fishing cod during a closed time.
Fishery officers from the Bay Roberts Detachment were conducting a vessel patrol on July 30, 2005, in the vicinity of New Harbour and observed Eric Rowe and Adolphus Thorne fishing for cod.
 |
|
-30-
|
|
|
|
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
|
|
|
|
Susan Keough
Communications Officer
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
(709) 772-7628
|
Sam Whiffen
Communications Officer
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
(709) 772-7631 |
|
|
| |
|
|
NR-NL-07-19E |
Top of Page |
|
