Suspensions from fishing; $57,000 in fines and forfeitures

COURT ORDERS FISHERMAN TO STAY ASHORE FOR 2008 SEASON

ROCKY HARBOUR, N.L. – A fish harvester from western Newfoundland has been ordered to stay ashore for the 2008 lobster season after being convicted of possessing illegally caught lobster.

In May 2007, fishery officers from the Rocky Harbour DFO detachment conducted an investigation in the Trout River area in response to complaints of illegal lobster pots. Fishery officers implanted six lobsters with tags using an electronic tracking system and placed the lobsters in illegal lobster pots that were uncovered during a coastal patrol. The following day, dockside inspections were carried out on lobster harvesters as they returned to port at Trout River.

Using a portable detector, fishery officers identified the six lobsters implanted with tags. Curtis Crocker of Trout River was charged with possessing lobsters that were caught in contravention of the Fisheries Act. He received a suspension prohibiting him from participating in the 2008 lobster fishery and was ordered to install a vessel monitoring system on his vessel for a period of two years.



ONE-MONTH SUSPENSION, FINES

STEPHENVILLE, N.L. - Lorenzo Hickey of Stephenville and James Bedo of Port au Port have been convicted of possession of undersized and v-notched female lobsters. They were apprehended during a routine dockside investigation conducted at Little Port Harmon, Stephenville. The illegal lobsters comprised approximately 30 per cent of the total catch landed. Subsequently the entire catch, as well as Hickey’s boat, were both seized.

Hickey is prohibited from participating in the 2008 lobster fishery for approximately one month, and the lobster licence which allowed him to fish as a designated operator is also suspended for the same period. He was also fined $500 and forfeited his catch valued at $438. Bedo was fined $400.





OVER $57,000 IN FINES AND FORFEITURES HANDED DOWN FOR REPEAT FISHING OFFENCES

MARYSTOWN, N.L. - Alvin H. Short of Upper Island Cove, N.L. has been sentenced to $15,000 in fines and has forfeited over $42,000 in catch for fishing scallop during a closed time on four separate occasions.

On May 3, 2006, fishery officers from the Marystown detachment of Fisheries and Oceans Canada boarded the vessel Setting Sea II as it was illegally fishing scallops in Area 11 in 3Ps, just west of the Burin Peninsula.

Short, the captain of the vessel, was informed that he was fishing during a closed time and was asked to return to port in St. Lawrence.

When the Setting Sea II returned to port, its scallop catch was seized, valued at $18,603. Short was charged and subsequently convicted of fishing scallops during a closed time.

On July 18, 2007, a fishery officer on board a surveillance flight observed and identified the Setting Sea II fishing in the North Sea Scallop Bed during a closed time. In the early morning hours of July 19, fishery officers met the Setting Sea II when she landed in St. Lawrence and seized the catch on board, valued at $23,759.50.

Further investigation by fishery officers revealed that Short had also fished the closed area on two previous trips in 2007. Short was again charged and subsequently convicted of fishing scallops during a closed time.

Recently in court, Short was ordered to pay $3,000 and $12,000 in fines, respectively, for the offences in 2006 and 2007. Short was also forced to forfeit his scallop catch seized, valued at $42,363.