Selling Angler Caught Yellow Perch Proves Costly
November 2, 2010
An Aylmer man has been fined $1,200 and banned from sport fishing for two years for unlawfully selling fish.
Kenneth Earhart was convicted of unlawfully selling angler caught yellow perch, fined $1,200 and prohibited from sport fishing for 2 years.
The court heard that on June 22, 2010, a plainclothes conservation officer attended the residence of Earhart and purchased 15 lbs. of yellow perch fillets that had been offered for sale. The fish had been caught by Earhart several days earlier and frozen. Officers were able to determine that the fish were caught on the waters of Lake Erie off Port Burwell.
Justice of the Peace Sonia Aleong heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, St. Thomas, on October 22, 2010.
Buying and selling fish caught by sport fishing is prohibited under Ontario’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. Sport caught fish are not subject to food safety and quality inspections and may pose a threat to the public’s safety.
To report a natural resources violation, call 1-877-TIPS-MNR (874-7667) toll-free any time or contact your local ministry of natural resources office during regular business hours. You can also call Crime stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
