Q No. 013/07
For release - October 22, 2007

FINE IMPOSED ON A FISHING VESSEL FOR OIL POLLUTION

RIMOUSKI – A recent investigation by Transport Canada has resulted in charges in Penal and Criminal Court followed by an imposition of fines. The fishing vessel Manic III, belonging to the company YMB Navigation, which is owned by Mr. Yvon Langlois, was found guilty of hydrocarbon pollution.

Under the Oil Pollution Prevention Regulations and the Canada Shipping Act, Judge Lucie Morissette of the District of Gaspé Criminal and Penal Court recently ordered the Manic III to pay an $8000 fine for dumping oily water from its machine room bilges into the Saint Lawrence Estuary and for omitting to file a pollutant discharge report. The discharge occurred on March 23, 2004 when the Manic III was moored at the Sainte-Anne-des-Monts wharf.

Transport Canada is committed to ensuring that commercial shipping operations in Canadian waters respect the environment and to prosecuting marine polluters whenever there is sufficient evidence. The penalties imposed by the courts serve as deterrent for any potential polluters.

In addition, under the Health of the Oceans Initiative, the Government of Canada strengthened its commitment regarding the national water strategy announced in the Budget 2007. With an investment of $61.5 million over five years, divided among five federal departments, the Health of the Oceans funds are designated exclusively to protect fragile marine ecosystems and Canada's ocean resources for coastal communities. Transport Canada will use its assigned amounts to increase protection of Canada's navigable waterways by fighting pollution from ships.

Transport Canada is continuing to work closely with other federal agencies, such as Fisheries and Oceans, the Canadian Coast Guard, Environment Canada, National Defence and Justice Canada, as well as other national and international partners to eliminate ship source marine pollution in Canadian waters.

For more information about the Government of Canada's efforts to fight ship source pollution, as well as other Transport Canada initiatives under Health of the Oceans, visit the following Web sites: www.marinepollution.gc.ca and http://www.tc.gc.ca/mediaroom/releases/nat/2007/07-h185e.htm.

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