Great Lakes: Conservation Enforcement Action

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Author Topic:   Great Lakes: Conservation Enforcement Action

jimh posted 06-21-2011 08:04 AM ET (US)
Recently the province of Ontario took a significant conservation enforcement action against two boaters.
The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources announced on Friday, June 17, 2011, that the Ontario Court of Justice, Windsor, had fined two Windsor, Ontario residents $6,000 each for illegally possessing overlimits of fish and selling the fish without license. In addition, two vehicles, a boat, a trailer, an outboard motor, a refrigerator, a freezer, and a large quantity of sport fishing equipment were permanently forfeited to the government. The two residents are prohibited from fishing in Ontario and may not possess fishing equipment or sport fish for the next five years.
Conservation officers from Lake Erie had conducted a 16-month investigation into these activities and had observed the pair catching perch and walleye in excess of the legal limits, and then selling the fish to retail outlets and other individuals on many occasions.
Action was also taken against the Coolwater Fish Ltd. retail outlet and an individual associated with that business. Their fines totaled $4,500.
The investigation began after the agency received complaints from other anglers about the illegal activity.

Waterwonderland posted 06-21-2011 09:33 AM ET (US)
I wish they had mentioned the value of the fish sold by the violators during the period of investigation. The penalties may or may not seem as appropriate for those residents. Seems like a very severe penalty. More importantly, I wonder what law or laws give the authorities the right to take their property. I assume it was under some “used in the commitment of the crime”.
What if some ill informed angler is boarded in Canadian waters and has one fish over the limit? It can't be that severe a penalty. I do remember being very conscious of no wake areas when boating in Canada waters but I can't remember the penalty.
All that said, I really can't find any sympathy for those fishermen.
gnr posted 06-21-2011 10:15 AM ET (US)
I bet it was the selling of the Walleye that really got them in hot water.
GBayWhaler posted 06-21-2011 12:47 PM ET (US)
All of my dealings with the Canadian fishcops have been very reasonable. That being said, I have never given them cause to become unreasonable. This might have something to do with my lack angling prowess.
I am delighted that they crack down on poaching, and use the full extent of the law to prosecute.
I bet those folks are now smuggling cigarettes across the border...
Sourpuss1 posted 06-21-2011 12:53 PM ET (US)
Or asian carp.....
lakeside25 posted 06-21-2011 12:55 PM ET (US)
Or Asian carp ....
home Aside posted 06-23-2011 09:10 AM ET (US)
Waterwonderland,
That falls under forfieture laws, vehicles, equipment, articles, etc used in the commission of crimes, or bought with profits from crimes properties, bank accounts, you know Ill Gotten Gains! They usually use it to go after the Big Fish so to speak.
We also use it to forfiet the vehicles of repeat drunk drivers...
Pat

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Author	Topic: Great Lakes: Conservation Enforcement Action
jimh	posted 06-21-2011 08:04 AM ET (US) Recently the province of Ontario took a significant conservation enforcement action against two boaters. The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources announced on Friday, June 17, 2011, that the Ontario Court of Justice, Windsor, had fined two Windsor, Ontario residents $6,000 each for illegally possessing overlimits of fish and selling the fish without license. In addition, two vehicles, a boat, a trailer, an outboard motor, a refrigerator, a freezer, and a large quantity of sport fishing equipment were permanently forfeited to the government. The two residents are prohibited from fishing in Ontario and may not possess fishing equipment or sport fish for the next five years. Conservation officers from Lake Erie had conducted a 16-month investigation into these activities and had observed the pair catching perch and walleye in excess of the legal limits, and then selling the fish to retail outlets and other individuals on many occasions. Action was also taken against the Coolwater Fish Ltd. retail outlet and an individual associated with that business. Their fines totaled $4,500. The investigation began after the agency received complaints from other anglers about the illegal activity.
Waterwonderland	posted 06-21-2011 09:33 AM ET (US) I wish they had mentioned the value of the fish sold by the violators during the period of investigation. The penalties may or may not seem as appropriate for those residents. Seems like a very severe penalty. More importantly, I wonder what law or laws give the authorities the right to take their property. I assume it was under some “used in the commitment of the crime”. What if some ill informed angler is boarded in Canadian waters and has one fish over the limit? It can't be that severe a penalty. I do remember being very conscious of no wake areas when boating in Canada waters but I can't remember the penalty. All that said, I really can't find any sympathy for those fishermen.
gnr	posted 06-21-2011 10:15 AM ET (US) I bet it was the selling of the Walleye that really got them in hot water.
GBayWhaler	posted 06-21-2011 12:47 PM ET (US) All of my dealings with the Canadian fishcops have been very reasonable. That being said, I have never given them cause to become unreasonable. This might have something to do with my lack angling prowess. I am delighted that they crack down on poaching, and use the full extent of the law to prosecute. I bet those folks are now smuggling cigarettes across the border...
Sourpuss1	posted 06-21-2011 12:53 PM ET (US) Or asian carp.....
lakeside25	posted 06-21-2011 12:55 PM ET (US) Or Asian carp ....
home Aside	posted 06-23-2011 09:10 AM ET (US) Waterwonderland, That falls under forfieture laws, vehicles, equipment, articles, etc used in the commission of crimes, or bought with profits from crimes properties, bank accounts, you know Ill Gotten Gains! They usually use it to go after the Big Fish so to speak. We also use it to forfiet the vehicles of repeat drunk drivers... Pat