35 Charges Laid in Three-Day Enforcement Blitz

OntarioMNRFThe Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry laid 35 charges and issued 81 warnings during a three-day enforcement blitz on Highway 105, between Ear Falls and Vermilion Bay, Ontario.

From June 16 to 18, 2015, conservation officers checked 824 anglers, including 712 non-residents, for compliance with the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, Ontario Fishery Regulations and public safety legislation.

Charges and warnings were issued for:

  • fishing without a licence
  • having an over-limit of fish
  • possessing fish of a prohibited length
  • possessing live fish
  • transporting live fish
  • having packaged fish that could not be readily counted, identified or measured
  • possessing illegal bait (smelt)
  • obstructing a conservation officer
  • consuming liquor outside licensed premises, a residence or private place
  • failing to have personal flotation devices for watercraft

Officers found a group of six anglers who had 21 black crappie over their combined legal limit and a group of three who had 11 walleye over their combined legal limit.

Thirteen commercial baitfish dealers were also inspected, and warnings were issued for selling baitfish without a licence, failing to maintain a log book and failing to comply with the conditions of a baitfish dealer licence.

The ministry reminds the public that fishing limits are in place to maintain a sustainable fishery so that anglers and other resource users may enjoy the resource in the future.

For further information on fishing regulations, please consult the Recreational Fishing Regulations Summary, available ontario.ca/fishing.

To report a natural resources violation, call 1-877-847-7667 toll-free any time or contact your local ministry’s office during regular business hours. You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

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