Four men have been assessed fines of $7,570 after pleading guilty in Spiritwood to 12 charges under Saskatchewan Fisheries Regulations.
Their offences: angling with too many lines. Two of the four also pled guilty to over-possession of fish.
Those who pled guilty include the following:
Cyril Brock of Saskatoon was convicted of angling with too many lines, over possession of fish and exceeding the daily limit. He was fined $3,720 and given a three-year angling license suspension.
William Tyndall of Chitek Lake was convicted of angling with too many lines and over possession of fish. His fine is $2,950 and he received a one-year fishing prohibition.
Robert Weal of Chitek Lake was convicted of two counts of angling with too many lines and was fined $650.
Guy Denton of Wilkie was convicted of angling with too many lines and fined $250.
According to the news release issued by the province, the charges were a result of a two-year covert investigation by the provincial ministry of environment.
The investigation was initiated by calls from the public to the Chitek Lake Ministry of Environment office.
In a statement, Ministry of Environment Compliance and Enforcement Director Ken Aube pointed out "excessive fishing can harm efforts to maintain game fish populations."
"We hope that the penalties imposed by the courts in this case will serve as a deterrent to those who consider abusing our fisheries resources in the future.
Anyone suspecting environmental, forestry, fisheries or wildlife violations is encouraged to contact a Ministry of Environment office or call the province's Turn In Poachers line at 1-800-667-7561, or #5555 from SaskTel. Suspected violations can also be reported online at www.environment.gov.sk.ca/compliance-enforcement. Those who report violations may be eligible for cash rewards though the SaskTip Reward Program.
