KAMLOOPS ANGLER CONVICTED OF ILLEGAL FISHING ACTIVITY IN ADAMS LAKE
KAMLOOPS - Fisheries and Oceans Canada announced today that a Kamloops resident has received a $460 fine for "high-grading" while angling.
On December 10, 2003, a federal fishery officer and a provincial conservation officer responded to a complaint from a local Adams Lake resident who had witnessed an angler retain a large trout in a small pond by the shore of the lake and was continuing to angle. As a result of the accurate and timely information reported by the complainant to the Observe, Record, Report program, the officers responded and found Bruce Mackinnon in possession of a 62 cm live bull trout. The fish was being kept alive in a shallow pond that was not deep enough for the entire fish to be submerged. Mr. Mackinnon admitted to having caught the fish two hours earlier and was planning on releasing it if he caught a bigger one. The daily limit for bull trout is one, over 60 cm, in the Thompson-Nicola region.
"High-grading" of freshwater fish (keeping your catch until it can be replaced with a bigger or better catch) is illegal and can cause unnecessary stress on the fish, increasing the chance of mortality even after being released back into the water.
Recently, in Clearwater provincial court, Mr. Mackinnon was convicted for possessing live fish without a permit. It is unlawful to have any live fish in your possession in the wild. For the seriousness of this offence, and as a deterrent for other anglers, Mr. Mackinnon was fined a total of $460. He has a record of two other prior fisheries convictions.
Bull trout are a species of concern for provincial biologists and managers, due to a documented historical decline in abundance in many of the streams and lakes within the province. Stronger management measures for bull trout are being proposed.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the B.C. Conservation Officer Service ask for assistance from the general public for information on illegal fishing activity. Anyone with information can call the toll-free violation reporting line at 1-800-465-4336.
Contact:
Michelle Imbeau
Communications Officer
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Region
(604) 666-2872
