SASKATCHEWAN ANGLERS FINED $15,500 FOR FISHERIES VIOLATIONS

Two Saskatchewan anglers were fined $7,750 each for fisheries violations in provincial court in La Ronge today. Jason Paulsen of Prince Albert and Bernard Wiberg of Christopher Lake were convicted of two counts each under The Fisheries Regulations.

The two were convicted of excessive over-limits of fish, and possessing fish larger than the maximum size allowed. In addition to the fines, the boat, motor and fishing equipment used by the men were ordered to be forfeited to the Crown.

The charges were laid as the result of Turn in Poachers (TIP) calls to the Ministry of Environment in September 2007. The ensuing investigation found that the two men had been fishing at Waterbury Lake, which is located approximately 450 km north of La Ronge. Waterbury Lake has reduced fish limits and is designated as a "catch and release" lake. A search of their vehicle and trailer found over-limits of fish and violations of maximum length limits.

"Excessive fishing can harm efforts to maintain game fish populations," Ministry of Environment's Compliance and Field Services Branch executive director Kevin Callele said. "We hope that the significant penalty imposed in this case will serve as a deterrent to those who abuse our fisheries resources in the future."

Anyone who is aware of, or suspects wildlife, fisheries or environmental violations is encouraged to report them to the nearest Ministry of Environment office or to call the province's toll-free TIP line at 1-800-667-7561. SaskTel cell phone subscribers can call #5555.

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For more information, contact:

Gary Provencher
Environment
Saskatoon
Phone: 306-933-7928
Cell: 306-270-3860