FORT FRANCES — A resident of the Rainy River district has received a stiff penalty after being convicted of numerous violations of Ontario fishing regulations.
Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officers, assisted by the ministry's Intelligence and Investigation Services Unit, began an investigation in 2019 after receiving complaints from the public regarding illegal commercial harvesting and selling of baitfish, and the illegal sale of walleye.
During the investigation, which lasted until 2021, a man was observed harvesting baitfish at the government dock in Morson, on Lake of the Woods.
At a hearing before a justice of the peace in fort Frances earlier this year, the court also heard that the man unlawfully sold baitfish, leeches and walleye to officers without proper authority.
Neil Bernier of Bergland was convicted of selling baitfish and leeches without a licence for commercial purposes, unlawfully taking baitfish for commercial purposes, fishing without a licence, commercially selling walleye, possessing an overlimit of walleye, and packaging fish in a manner such that the species and number of fish cannot be readily determined.
He was fined $15,870 and given a three-year fishing and baitfish licensing suspension.
