Too many walleye nets $4,410 in fines

Seven Northern Ontario residents have been fined a total of $4,410 for an over-limit of walleye.

Veronique Chartrand, of Chelmsford, Lise Chartrand, of Armstrong Township, Antonio Morin, of Earlton, Gisele Morin, of Earlton, Roger Desilets, of Dack Township, Paulette Desilets, of Dack Township, and Marcel McMahon, of Lorrain Township, pleaded guilty to possessing more walleye than permitted under a sport fishing licence and were each fined $630.

Each is also prohibited from fishing in the Blanche River, its tributaries, and within one kilometre of the Blanche River, for one year.

Court heard that on the weekend of May 16 to May 18, the opening of the 2015 walleye season, conservation officers focused their enforcement efforts on the Blanche River in the Temiskaming district. Officers saw members of a party of seven catch, keep and retain an over-limit of 22 walleye.

The fish were seized and will be donated.

Justice of the Peace Monique Mechefske heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Haileybury, on Sept. 17.

The ministry reminds the public that fishing limits are in place to maintain a sustainable fishery so that anglers and other resource users may enjoy the resource in the future.

For more 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).