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UPCOMING EVENTS

IN THE NEWS

The Ontario government is safeguarding walleye from illegal fishing practices by ensuring anglers are only keeping fish of a legal size.

Sylvester Gutkowski of Winnipeg, Manitoba pleaded guilty to possessing fish of a prohibited size. He was fined $2,700 and was also suspended from fishing in Ontario for one year.

The court heard that on evening of September 3, 2022, conservation officers were conducting a patrol of Caribou Falls north of Kenora and observed a group of people camping. During the contact it was determined that the group had been angling on the Winnipeg River and Gutkowski had nine illegally sized walleye. Both James and Lorrie Morrissette had been angling and neither had a valid licence.

Ontario Protecting Walleye from Illegal Angling | Ontario Newsroom

Nabil Bassiouni of Roxboro, Quebec and Abrahim Abdelgelil of Ottawa were found guilty of catching and retaining bass during the closed season and were fined $1,125 each. Bassiouni was also found guilty of fishing with an extra line and was fined an additional $250. Both individuals had their fishing rods and tackle forfeited to the Crown.

The court heard that on the morning of May 22, 2020, a conservation officer was patrolling the shore of the Rideau River near Burritts Rapids in Ottawa. The officer observed Bassiouni catch and retain a bass during the closed season. Neither individual had a fishing licence. Both individuals were issued tickets at that time.

Later that day, the conservation officer observed the same two individuals, at the same location, committing the same offence of catching bass and hiding them in the grass. It was also discovered during this secondary inspection that Bassiouni was also fishing with an extra line.

Ontario Protecting Fish from Illegal Angling | Ontario Newsroom

Joshua Schill of Sault Ste. Marie pleaded guilty to selling baitfish without a licence for commercial purposes and fined $2,000. Schill was fined an additional $1,200 for failing to make an annual return or keep a logbook.

The court heard that on February 1, 2021, a conservation officer inspected commercial baitfish traps set through the ice on Furcate Lake, marked with Schill’s commercial baitfish licence number. Further investigation revealed he was selling baitfish out of his Thunder Bay-based business Wiggley Baits without a valid baitfish harvester and dealer licence, and that he failed to submit his mandatory annual return. A subsequent inspection of the Silver Minnow Bait Shop, also owned by Schill, revealed his baitfish logbook was not being maintained.

Ontario is Protecting the Province’s Biodiversity | Ontario Newsroom

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