LAKE ERIE COMMERCIAL FISHERMAN USES ILLEGAL GILL NETS
A News Release from the MNR - Lake Erie Enforcement Team
CHATHAM — A Leamington commercial fishing company and a boat captain have been fined $3450 for using illegal gill nets.
The Family Fish Co. Ltd., which owns a Lake Erie commercial fishing licence, has been fined $1150. The captain of the commercial fishing vessel Mummery Bros., John Lablance, 38, of Wallaceburg, has been fined $2300. The seized gill nets are forfeited to the Crown.
On July 25, 2007, conservation officers were inspecting commercial fishing vessels in the Erieau harbour, on Lake Erie when they discovered 19 illegally undersized gill nets on the Mummery Bros. The legal minimum size of 57 millimetres (2¼ inches) is used to selectively harvest yellow perch of marketable size which have spawned at least once. Minimum mesh size and quotas help maintain healthy yellow perch stocks on Lake Erie.
To report a natural resource violation, call 1-877-TIPS-MNR (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).
