Canada Convicted 31 of Illegal Fishing in 2016's Fourth Quarter in Newfoundland, Labrador
The convictions followed investigations by Fisheries and Oceans Canada fishery officers. More than $23,000 in fines were issued in connection with the cases.
Canada announced Feb. 8 that 31 individuals were convicted during the fourth quarter of 2016 of violations under the Fisheries Act in Newfoundland and Labrador. The convictions followed investigations by Fisheries and Oceans Canada fishery officers.
More than $23,000 in fines were issued in connection with the cases.
In the inland recreational salmon fishery, individual fines up to $1,000 were issued for offenses such as illegally landing salmon for another license holder, failure to affix tags to salmon, improper tagging of salmon, and failure to release foul-hooked salmon. Other penalties included gear forfeiture and prohibitions of up to five years from participating in the inland fishery.
In the recreational cod fishery, individual fines up to $750 were issued for exceeding the daily bag limit; other penalties included forfeitures of gear and prohibition from participation in the 2017 recreational groundfish fishery. And in the crab fishery, individual fines of up to $2,000 were issued for fishing crab during closed times and for fishing crab in a Conservation Exclusion Zone.