Manitoba Natural Resources and Northern Development are reporting that numerous tickets and fines have been handed out for illegal activities from February thru April, 2022.
On Feb. 26, conservation officers from the Selkirk district conducted a commercial fish patrol on Lake Winnipeg near Belair. Officers found two nets marked for domestic fishing purposes that did not appear to have been lifted recently, and further inspection found most of the fish was unfit for human consumption. The nets contained approximately 160 fish in total with more than 100 that had rotted. Charges are pending against two individuals under the federal Fisheries Act.
On March 30, conservation officers from the Riverton district conducted a vehicle stop north of Riverton on a truck that appeared to be hauling tubs of fish. Officers spoke to the occupants of the truck and upon inspection determined they were hauling 24 tubs of fish without a load slip, which is a legal requirement. Officers seized approximately 710 kilograms of fish, valued at approximately $5,500. A ticket was issued under Manitoba’s Fish Marketing Regulation.
On April 4, conservation officers from the Winnipeg district received information about a deceased white-tailed deer dumped in a residential area in Winnipeg. The edible portions of the deer had not been removed from the carcass. The deer’s head had been removed but there appeared to be a game tag attached to the carcass, issued for the purpose of hunting deer. Further investigation resulted in a male from Winnipeg being charged for wasting an edible portion of a big game animal. If convicted, the male faces a fine of $672 and a two-year hunting licence suspension.
On April 17, conservation officers from Thompson were conducting compliance checks on Paint Lake when they encountered two anglers who had a total of five fishing lines. On further inspection, many of the hooks were barbed. The anglers were issued tickets totalling $206 for angling with too many lines along and angling with barbed hooks. Each angler was also issued a $298 ticket for fishing without an angling licence.
Anyone with information on illegal activity is asked to call their local Natural Resources and Northern Development office or the Turn in Poachers (TIP) line at 1-800-782-0076.
