Most anglers stopped at a border check on Trans-Canada Highway 17 in Ontario, at the Manitoba border, were found to be complying with Ontario’s fishing regulations.

Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry conservation officers, along with one of the regional canine units, conducted the enforcement blitz on August 24, 2018. Officers were checking for compliance with fishery and invasive species regulations, with a special focus on the movement of aquatic invasive species and bait crossing the border into Ontario.

Conservation officers checked 80 vehicles from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and Minnesota during the five-hour operation. Officers issued three charges, all for the offence of bringing live leeches into Ontario for bait.

Additional charges are pending under the Fisheries Act, including:
• bringing live leeches into Ontario for bait
• making a false or misleading statement to a fisheries officer
• obstructing a fisheries officer

One additional charge is pending under the Criminal Code of Canada. Conservation officers also used the enforcement blitz to educate the public about angling regulations.

To report a natural resources violation, call the MNR 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.

For more information regarding the blitz you can contact S/SGT Dan McMahon, Kenora Enforcement Unit, 807-468-2583