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Working Together

Here is a letter I received from the MNR:

Hello Al,

Your Fall-Winter 2012 Journal was sent to me because of its enforcement content, but of course I couldn’t stop there – a very interesting and informative read.

My first comment is to thank you for your support of MNR’s field Conservation Officers. It’s the public’s participation through our TIPS-MNR violation reporting line that keeps our officers effective. Given Ontario Steelheaders obvious support for our enforcement work I would like to connect your group with another Ontario volunteer organization that provides tremendous support to us by focusing attention on specific illegal activity and then sharing the resulting information with us – information that leads to many successful convictions. The network of Crime Stoppers programs in Ontario has been an active supporter of MNR enforcement since 1991.

You will no doubt have noticed their “Unlawful sale of trout and salmon roe” ad in the 2012 Recreational Fishing Regulations Summary. That ad, which was collaboration between Crime Stoppers and Trout Unlimited Canada, placed a spotlight on an important issue of concern to all law abiding anglers – the illegal sale of our fishery resource.

As the MNR Enforcement Branch representative to the Ontario Association of Crime Stoppers I would be happy to put you in contact with a member of the OACS executive to discuss running the ad in you next Journal edition – the timing couldn’t be better!

Regards, Mark Robbins Provincial Enforcement Specialist Enforcement Branch Ministry of Natural Resources
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$50,000 Fine For Importing Live Asian Carp

June 22, 2012

A Toronto fish importing company and the company president have been fined a total of $50,000 for possessing live Asian Carp in Ontario. Xionyin Trading Inc., of Toronto pleaded guilty to possessing live invasive fish and was fined $40,000. Xiong Wang of Markham, also pleaded guilty to possessing live invasive fish and was fined $10,000. Additionally, 2,472 kilograms (5,450 pounds) of seized Bighead Carp valued at $3,270 was forfeited to the Crown. Charges against the second company representative are still before the court. The court heard that on January 20, 2011, the Canada Border Services Agency at the Blue Water Bridge in Point Edward contacted the Ministry of Natural Resources to assist with the inspection of a truck hauling fish from the state of Arkansas into Ontario. Conservation officers inspected the truck and located a substantial amount of live Bighead Carp in the truck and subsequently seized all the fish.

It has been illegal to possess live invasive fish including, Bighead, Grass, Black and Silver Carp in Ontario since 2005 because of the significant threat they pose to the province’s lake systems. As part of the ongoing efforts to protect Ontario’s environment from the importation of invasive species, the Ministry of Natural Resources will continue to work with its law enforcement partners to monitor compliance with the legislation.

The Honourable Justice Deborah J. Austin heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, in Sarnia, on June 22, 2012.

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

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The Law (Fisheries Act of Canada) Did you know?

Here are some rules from the Fisheries Act of Canada.

Throwing overboard of certain substances prohibited

36. (1) No one shall

  • (a) throw overboard ballast, coal ashes, stones or other prejudicial or deleterious substances in any river, harbour or roadstead, or in any water where fishing is carried on;
  • (b) leave or deposit or cause to be thrown, left or deposited, on the shore, beach or bank of any water or on the beach between high and low water mark, remains or offal of fish or of marine animals; or
  • (c) leave decayed or decaying fish in any net or other fishing apparatus. Marginal note:Disposal of remains, etc.

(2) Remains or offal described in subsection.

(1) may be buried ashore, above high water mark.