$1,000 Fine for Possessing Illegal Fish

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A Quebec man has been fined $1,000 for fishing offences.

Sylvain Bolduc of Boisbriand pleaded guilty to possessing five fish over his legal limit and was fined $1,000.

Court heard that on June 27, 2015, Bolduc had been fishing in Quebec and was about to travel home via Ontario and Quebec roads when he was inspected at the Ontario border. A fish inspection station run by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, assisted by Quebec conservation officers and the Ontario Provincial Police, was in operation. Bolduc was found to be in possession of five walleye over the legal limit for the Quebec location where he had been angling. According to Ontario’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, it is an offence to possess fish, wildlife or fur taken unlawfully in another jurisdiction.

Justice of the Peace Diane Lafleur heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, North Bay, on March 10, 2016.

Anglers are reminded that when transporting fish on land, the fish caught and kept must be cleaned and packaged in such a way that conservation officers can identify the number and species of all fish, not just those with limits.

For further information on fishing regulations, please consult the Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary, available at ontario.ca/fishing.

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).