Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development are advising that conservation officers are continuing enforcement to protect Manitoba’s natural resources.
This includes compliance checks for fisheries, addressing illegal hunting, and supporting wildfire prevention and suppression.
Following the successful conclusion of an investigation earlier this year that resulted in a significant seizure of walleye, conservation officers recently donated more than 200 whole walleye to Siloam Mission in Winnipeg.
The fish were seized in the spring and had been safely stored until they were cleared for donation. The walleye were seized after officers found people dip netting in the Turtle River, near Ste. Rose du Lac.
On June 19th, officers from the Riverton Compliance Area located a boat in the Hollow Water area of Lake Winnipeg, with three people (helpers), pulling an improperly marked commercial gill net without a licensed commercial present.
Two nets, five tubs of fish, and various commercial fishing gear were seized.
The commercial fisher responsible for the helpers was issued a ticket of $486, and the helpers were given tickets of $1,296 for fishing without a license.
That same day, officers also found a boat with a single fisher pulling a net. The net did not clearly identify the owner, or type of net so the net and one tub of fish was seized. A ticket fishing an improperly marked gill net was issued, with a set fine of $672.
The next week, conservation offices found a series of illegal commercial fishing nets in the Hollow Water Area.
On June 26th, officers observed a boat in Wekusko Lake, with people who appeared to be fishing in the closed area, so they launched a boat patrol.
The anglers were charged under the Manitoba Fishery Regulations for ‘catch and retain fish during the closed time’. Officers seized 17 walleye, five fishing rods and issued restitution notices for the fish that were caught in the closed area.
This amounted to $1,435 in fines and $714 in restitution. All fish will be donated to people in need within the community.
Information about fishing regulations can be found here.
