The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry laid 24 charges and issued 22 warnings during a three-day enforcement check at the Thousand Islands border crossing in Lansdowne.
From July 6 to 8, conservation officers from Kemptville, Pembroke, Bancroft and Peterborough enforcement units, with the assistance of the canine unit, checked over 1,000 incoming and outgoing anglers from various American states and Canadian provinces. Officers checked for compliance with the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act and the Ontario Fishery Regulations. They also used the opportunity to educate the public about invasive species, non-bait species and how to package sport fish for transportation.
Charges and warnings issued included:
· packaging fish in a way that they cannot be counted or identified
· skinning fish in a manner that they cannot be identified
· cutting fish so the number of fish cannot easily be counted
· fishing without a licence
· possessing an over-limit of fish
More than 500 fish or parts of fish were forfeited to the Crown and are to be donated to charity. Several investigations are still ongoing as a result of these inspections.
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 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
