Failing to follow proper commercial fishing practices on Lake Erie has resulted in steep fines, totalling $13,500.
The Ministry of Natural Resources said a Wheatley man was found guilty of failing to comply with the terms and conditions of a licence.
Between July 28 and August 18, 2023, he fished out of Port Stanley as captain of a commercial fishing vessel, read a media release from the ministry.
The court heard that he fished multiple days but failed to record activities in his logbook and inaccurately reported the location of his gill nets.
As a result, he was fined $11,000 and ordered to use commercial fishing boats with monitored GPS units.
A commercial fishing licence holder from Leamington pleaded guilty to being a party to the same offence. The corporation was fined $2,500.
The cases were heard separately in the Ontario Court of Justice in St. Thomas between December 11, 2024, and January 16, 2025.
"The Ontario government is safeguarding Lake Erie from illegal commercial fishing practices by ensuring commercial fish licence holders and captains follow licence conditions," read the media release. "Commercial fishing activities on Lake Erie are regulated by commercial fishing licences which are issued by the ministry with set licence conditions to ensure the sustainability of the Lake Erie fishery."
Residents can report a natural resource problem or provide information about an unsolved case by contacting the ministry's tip line at 1-877-847-7667 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
