Four Picton residents were fined for unlawfully commercializing walleye contrary to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act.
Terrance Cooper pleaded guilty to two offences of unlawfully selling walleye. He was fined $600 and received a two-year probation order.
Frank Powers pleaded guilty to unlawfully selling walleye and failing to comply with the conditions of his commercial fishing licence. He was fined $3,500.
George Chapman pleaded guilty to unlawfully purchasing walleye and was fined $750.
Harold Soules was found guilty at trial of unlawfully selling walleye. He was put on probation for two years.
The court heard that on April 9, 2017, conservation officers received information that George Chapman was cleaning a large number of walleye at his residence. Officers conducted an inspection at the Chapman residence and determined that the walleye had been unlawfully purchased. Further investigation revealed that Powers and Soules had unlawfully harvested the walleye that morning using commercial fishing gear and sold the walleye to Chapman at his residence. The sale of the fish was brokered by Cooper.
Justice of the Peace Ernest Parsons heard individual pleas from Cooper, Chapman, and Powers in the Ontario Court of Justice, Picton, between November 3, 2017, and April 27, 2018. Justice of the Peace Christopher Peltzer heard the trial proceedings for Soules in the Ontario Court of Justice, Picton, on October 26, 2018.
To report a natural resources violation, call the ministry’s 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
