16 Charges Laid During 11-hour Enforcement Blitz by Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry laid 16 charges and issued 26 warnings as part of an 11-hour angler and hunter road check enforcement blitz in Pointe Au Baril.
On May 22, 2018, conservation officers from Parry Sound, Bracebridge, the Intelligence Services Unit and the Canine Services Unit checked 220 anglers and hunters on Highway 69. Officers were checking for compliance with the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act and the Ontario Fishery Regulations.
Charges and warnings were issued for:
* packaging fish in a way that they cannot be counted or identified
* skinning fish in a manner that cannot be identified
* cutting fish so the number cannot easily be counted
* wasting flesh suitable for human consumption
* possessing fish of a prohibited size
* transporting live sport fish
· failing to stop for a conservation officer
Seizures were made by the officers including improperly packaged fish and fish over the limits.
Officers also used the opportunity to educate the public about invasive species, non-bait species, and how to package sport fish for transportation.
To report a natural resources violation, call the MNRF TIPS line at 1-877-847-7667 toll-free any time or contact your local ministry office during regular business hours. You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). And visit Ontario.ca/mnrftips<http://ontario.ca/mnrftips> to view an interactive, searchable map of unsolved cases. You may be able to provide information that will help solve a case.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love