Baitfish blitz leads to charges

[kickingfrog]

http://www.nugget.ca/2015/07/30/baitfish-blitz-leads-to-18-charges

 

 

 

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry laid 18 charges and issued 71 warnings in a two-month baitfish enforcement blitz in the Northeast Region.

Conservation officers from Chapleau, Wawa, Timmins, Hearst, Kirkland Lake, North Bay, Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury checked 1,394 individuals from May 1 to June 30, 2015. Officers inspected 126 bait dealers and harvesters, paying special attention to the possession and sale of species other than bait, the proper use of log books, and licensing. They also worked jointly with the Ontario Provincial Police, Quebec conservation officers, the ministry’s canine units and other agencies to check 134 individuals entering Ontario to ensure baitfish, leeches, crayfish and invasive species were not being imported into the province. In addition, officers inspected 1,134 bait buckets, at boat launches and on water, to ensure only baitfish species were being used for angling and bait was being disposed of properly.

Officers laid 18 charges for:

possessing unlawful fish from other jurisdictions

fishing without a licence

selling fish without a licence

bringing live leeches into Ontario for bait

failing to comply with licence conditions

possessing non-baitfish species

Officers issued 71 warnings for:

failing to complete, produce or keep a bait dealer’s daily log

possessing non-baitfish species

possessing more than 120 baitfish

taking baitfish for commercial purposes without a licence

failing to submit an annual return

Officers also used the opportunity to educate dealers, harvesters and anglers on the importance of preventing the movement and transfer of invasive species.

For further information on fishing regulations, please consult the Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary, available at ontario.ca/fishing.

To report a natural resources violation, call the MNRF 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).

[fishindevil]

thats sad really,it shows how easy it is for people to transfer invasives....how long till one of those bait buckets contain a few baby asian carp ???? or a host of all the other nasty critters that are on their way here...and thats only one blitz imagine how many they didnt get

[Joeytier]

They were up on here on Temiscaming Qc/ON a few weeks ago for a full day on a Saturday doing highway stop checks with the OPP and together with the QC co's. First time I have ever been checked by a CO around here in either province.

[OhioFisherman]

" possessing non-baitfish species "

 

That was a concern for me when I bought bait in Ontario, I don't recall ever getting a receipt for a bait fish purchase, but once you have them in your boat? A species that isn't a bait fish in on you? Is a moon eye a bait fish? I had never seen one until I bought bait in Ontario, and it didn't look right, so I didn't take it. I knew smallies and trout weren't bait fish.

 

Perhaps some confusion could be avoided by allowing non residents to catch bait from the water they are fishing?

Edited July 31, 2015 by OhioFisherman

[Bondar]

They are working hard in my area lately. Been finding non res fishing with gobys, bait buckets with foreign DNA. Everyone ask for more enforcement well it's here I think it's great .

[Sinker]

I had my bait bucket checked this past winter in the middle of nowhere. I was surprised to see anyone, let alone a CO.

 

S.

[grimsbylander]

What's a bait bucket? Lol