Canoe Narrows Residents Fined More Than $15,500 For Illegal Sale of Fish
Released on February 15, 2019
In a Canoe Narrows courtroom, two local men were recently fined more than $15,500 for numerous violations under The Fisheries Regulations.
Richard Desjardin, 63, pleaded guilty to three counts of marketing fish without a licence, commercial fishing without a licence, fishing in a closed area and obstruction. Desjardin was fined a total of $14,500 and had his truck forfeited to the Crown.
Following an earlier trial, Donald Iron, 60, was found guilty on three counts of illegally selling fish and three counts of selling fish without a licence. He was fined a total of $1,080. Four individuals were originally charged with various fish trafficking charges, but the charges against two of the accomplices were stayed when Desjardin accepted responsibility.
In 2016, Ministry of Environment conservation officers from Beauval received information that two individuals were illegally selling fish.
Undercover officers were able to purchase fish from both individuals, with one selling a significant amount more than the other. Officers purchased more than 200 walleye from the two men, who were not licensed commercial fishermen or licensed to sell the fish.
In the 1970s and 80s, walleye populations in Canoe Lake crashed and took years to recover. As a result, extra efforts were taken to curb the unlawful trafficking of fish from Canoe Lake.
An area of Canoe Lake is closed year-round to all fishing to protect the walleye spawning ground. This closure has been in effect for more than 20 years and is fully supported by Canoe Lake First Nation. The majority of the fish in this investigation were unlawfully taken from this closed area.
If you suspect wildlife, fishery, forestry or environmental violations, please call Saskatchewan’s toll-free Turn In Poachers line at 1-800-667-7561, or call #5555 (SaskTel cellular subscribers), or report a violation online at
www.saskatchewan.ca/tip. You may be eligible for cash rewards from the SaskTip Reward Program.
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For more information, contact:
Corey Rhiendel
Environment
Regina
Phone: 306-787-6595
Email:
corey.rhiendel@gov.sk.ca