Provincial courts recently convicted four individuals of fishery offences following investigations by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) fishery officers.
On 27 April 2009, in provincial court at St. Anthony, Martin Larkin of Cooks Harbour and Timothy Pilgrim and Alvohn Pilgrim of St. Lunaire were convicted of fishery violations.
Mr Larkin was charged with failing to release undersized Atlantic halibut and failing to release an illegal bycatch of snow crab. He was subsequently fined $750 and six undersized Atlantic halibut and 60 pounds of snow crab was forfeited by the court.
Mr Timothy Pilgrim was charged with using an unauthorised vessel and Mr Alvohn Pilgrim was charged with allowing an unauthorised person to use his vessel. Both individuals were fined $200.
On 28 April 2009 in provincial court at Corner Brook, David Cassell of Roddickton was charged with exceeding his daily catch limit of capelin, as specified in his license conditions. Mr Cassell was fined $500 and his excess catch, valued at almost $1200, was forfeited by the court.
