May 19, 2009
$2875 FINE FOR COMMERCIAL FISHING VIOLATIONS
A Leamington commercial fishing company and boat captain have been fined for failing to report lost gillnets.
Helio Ferreira, captain of the commercial fishing vessel, Mummery Bros., and Family Fish Co. Ltd., owner of the commercial fishing licence, pleaded guilty to two counts each of violating the terms and conditions of their licence. Ferreira was fined $1725 and Family Fish Co. Ltd. was fined $1150.
An investigation conducted by the Ministry of Natural Resources found that on December 23, 2008, the captain lost approximately 1.2 kilometres of gillnet set for white bass and white perch due to poor weather conditions on Lake Erie. The gillnets were not reported as lost by the company or captain as required by commercial fishing licence conditions.
The Honourable Justice S. Fuerth heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Chatham, on May 14, 2009.
To report a natural resource
violation, call 1-877-TIPS-MNR (847-7667) toll-free any time or contact your
ministry office during regular business hours. You can call Crime Stoppers anonymously
at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).