Fisherman fined $10,000 for fishing in unauthorized area

A Yarmouth County, N.S. fisherman didn’t get much of a birthday present when he appeared in provincial court on Feb. 4, the day he turned 27.

After pleading guilty to fishing in an unauthorized area, Matthew James Amirault received a fine of $10,000 and the 81 lobster traps that were seized on the day of his offence were forfeited.

The conviction stems from a violation that took place on May 17, 2007. On this day DFO's air surveillance unit observed the fishing vessel Matthew & Kelley I fishing in an unauthorized area 0.5 NM south of the 50-mile lobster line.

Speaking about the fine, Dwayne Muise, field supervisor at DFO’s Tusket detachment, said, “There were two charges. It was a plea bargain and one was dropped and we went with this charge, plus he had a prior violation for groundfish.”