Charges laid in Nipissing Ghost nets from last summer /Update July 23rd

kickingfrog · March 26, 2015

http://www.nugget.ca/2015/03/26/charges-laid-in-gill-netting

The Ministry of Natural Resources has confirmed charges have been laid in relation to the unmarked gill nets found in Lake Nipissing last summer.

“I can confirm that on March 24, 2015 charges were laid in relation to the unmarked gill nets,” Jolanta Kowalski, Senior Media Relations Officer with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry told The Nugget Thursday afternoon.

She said the suspect was charged with wasting flesh of fish suitable for food (an offence under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997) and for leaving decaying fish in a net (an offence under the Federal Fisheries Act).

“We appreciate the cooperation and assistance of the Nipissing First Nation in this matter. Since this matter is now before the courts, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further.”

Kowalski refused to identify the suspect and didn't provide an explanation.

From June 7 to late August the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry officers pulled 13 abandoned nets from Lake Nipissing. Most of the nets contained hundreds of dead fish.

The first net was discovered on Lake Nipissing on June 7. The net had more than 200 rotting fish in it.

As the nets continued to be found in Lake Nipissing, community organizations and groups jumped on board to help and bring attention to the issue.

BAYSAR Search and Rescue joined forces with the MNRF in the summer to help look for abandoned gill nets. The volunteer organization took five flights over the lake.

The North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce and Lake Nipissing Stakeholders Association called for the arrest of person or persons responsible for gill nets after discovery of a fifth 200-foot net full of rotting fish floating in Lake Nipissing.

Nipissing First Nation put a stop to gill netting on Lake Nipissing last fall in response to concerns from its community members about the health of the walleye fishery.

Chief Marianna Couchie stated in a previous article that the band council closed down gill netting on the lake until spring when the recreational walleye fishing season opens. She said many people wanted Nipissing First Nation to close gill netting right down, however the band council opted instead for a temporary closure out of concern for community members whose livelihoods depend on the fishery.

[email protected]

July 23, 2015 update:

http://www.nugget.ca/2015/07/23/court-date-approaching-for-two-charged-by-mnrf

Rachael Couchie and Kyle Goulais are scheduled to appear in court August 11 to answer to charges laid by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.

The charges are in relation to unmarked gill nets found in Lake Nipissing.

According to Ontario Court of Justice documents, Couchie was charged with leaving decaying fish (in a net), an offence under the Federal Fisheries Act.

Goulais faces charges under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, as well as leaving decaying fish.

Ministry spokeswoman Jolanta Kowalski said “the matter is still before the courts so it wouldn’t be appropriate for us to comment.”

Kowalski did not identify the suspect or explain why his or her identity was withheld when charges were laid.

Ministry officers pulled 13 abandoned nets from Lake Nipissing from June 7 to late August last year. A majority contained hundreds of dead fish.

Nipissing First Nation put a stop to gill netting on Lake Nipissing last fall in response to concerns from its community members about the health of the walleye fishery.

Chief Marianna Couchie stated in a previous article that the band council closed down gill netting on the lake until spring when the recreational walleye fishing season opens.

She stated many people wanted Nipissing First Nation to close gill netting completely. However, the band council opted instead for a temporary closure out of concern for community members whose livelihoods depend on the fishery.

[email protected]

Edited July 23, 2015 by kickingfrog

Muskieman · March 26, 2015

No names , boooo !

Joey · March 26, 2015

Well I'm glad the person responsible has been found and will be reprimanded. Hopefully it will be a stiff penalty, but I somehow doubt it.

Acountdeleted · March 26, 2015

Well I'm glad the person responsible has been found and will be reprimanded. Hopefully it will be a stiff penalty, but I somehow doubt it.

Sadly I agree. I would like to see a massive fine, but I doubt it.

netminder · March 26, 2015

I'll wait untill I hear convicted, not just charged.

woodenboater · March 27, 2015

I'll accept that it's not just pr, so it's a good sign that the NFN is involved.

SuperDave · March 27, 2015

Ths should be a substantial fine. If one muskie getting bonked on the Detroit River can cause such a fuss, this should have been an uproar! Will be interesting to see if we hear anymore regarding this. If only the perpetrator(s) were caught on camera.

Gnote · March 27, 2015

I personally havent fished nip, but i found this to be horrible, such a waste. Im happy to see that they were caught.

Mister G · March 27, 2015

I am afraid that too little and too late action by MNR and NFN has already doomed Lake Nipissing for many decades to come. It has been proven this lake cannot and will not support commercial and sport fishing, one has to go. This is not a ocean or even a Great Lake, but nothing more then a large inland lake. I feel bad for all those businesses that depend on walleye fishing that this lake was once known for.

kickingfrog · March 27, 2015

The charges laid are somewhat curious, I would have thought that there would have been some sort of navigation hazard aspect. :dunno:

moxie · March 27, 2015

They have a Ghost Suspect. Justice seeming to be done until the story disappears into the ether.Does anyone really care?

Beavertail · March 27, 2015

"Kowalski refused to identify the suspect and didn't provide an explanation"

That one paragraph seems very odd to me. We'll see if anything meaningful actually happens.

bigugli · March 27, 2015

"Kowalski refused to identify the suspect and didn't provide an explanation"

That one paragraph seems very odd to me. We'll see if anything meaningful actually happens.

The politics of diffusing tensions within some very angry communities.

Raycaster · March 27, 2015

Everyone wants justice but isn't that secondary?

Having social media point out these offenders and provoke citizen action will hopefully "spawn" future safeguards or at least broader attention.

Fines/jail-time won't do much but all the negative attention may prevent future abuses and speed up responses.

Sorry for the pun, just wanted to lighten the subject and tip to the positive side of things...

Beavertail · March 27, 2015

I get the sense they are trying to do the right thing but are walking on eggshells.

bigugli · March 27, 2015

I get the sense they are trying to do the right thing but are walking on eggshells.

Eggxactly

dave524 · March 27, 2015

"Kowalski refused to identify the suspect and didn't provide an explanation"

That one paragraph seems very odd to me. We'll see if anything meaningful actually happens.

Anyone else remember the ethnically insensitive joke that was attributed to many MNR's , some one put it on the bulletin board on official letterhead way back when I worked for the MNR in the 70's. It was about a new hybrid fish called a Kowalski. :angel:

Mister G · March 27, 2015

Anyone else remember the ethnically insensitive joke that was attributed to many MNR's , some one put it on the bulletin board on official letterhead way back when I worked for the MNR in the 70's. It was about a new hybrid fish called a Kowalski.

YES, the fish was part Coho and part Musky that was called a Kowalski but it had one bad feature that the MRN had to quit breeding them.

Musky or Specks · March 28, 2015

Sentenced to a healing circle.

manitoubass2 · March 28, 2015

Sentenced to a healing circle.

Lol frig. Perhaps you should go for a sweat, release that negative energy

Musky or Specks · March 28, 2015

Lol frig. Perhaps you should go for a sweat, release that negative energy

If I sweated out all my negative energy there'd be nothing left of me. BTW my statement was an indictment of government policy not native rights.

manitoubass2 · March 28, 2015

If I sweated out all my negative energy there'd be nothing left of me. BTW my statement was an indictment of government policy not native rights.

I hope your not serious but that gave me a good chuckle???

kickingfrog · July 23, 2015