Ad blocker detected: Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors. Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker on our website.
BARRIE — Two Toronto men found hiding in a ditch have been fined $5,000 and banned from fishing for two years for illegally netting 27 chinook salmon.
Jan Demkowicz, 60, was fined $3,000 and Josef Budka, 55, $2,000.
Ministry of Natural Resources Midhurst District conservation officers snagged the men in a ditch near the Pine River, Alliston, on September 28, 2004. A search uncovered 27 fish in the nearby forest.
Both cases were heard this summer in the Ontario Court of Justice, Barrie. Budka appeared before Justice of the Peace Anne Marie Puusaari on June 7, 2005. Demkowicz came up before Justice of the Peace Sue Hilton on August 6, 2005.
The public is asked to protect its natural resources by reporting violations to the Ministry of Natural Resources’ Midhurst District Office at 705-725-7500, or anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Twenty-seven, that's a heavy load of salmon to be carrying around! Hopefully they didn't get any spawners but more then likely did! The fines just don't justify the crime; in my eyes at least!
Over the last few weeks I have been observing 4 poachers fishing from shore using two to three lines, netting perch and other sunfish and using them for bait. Originally I tried to speak to these people but they acted as though I was not even there. I don't think they speak english and if they do it isn't very well, but as I say they treated me like a ghost not even acknowledging in any way shape or form that I was even trying to speak to them. So, every time I saw an infraction taking place I called Crimestoppers and gave a detailed report of where the people were and what they were wearing. After the third day of reporting seperate incidences I was told to 'stop calling' and that someone would look into this when they had a chance.
I did end up meeting with a CO who received the call four full days after the original call. As well, he was only aware of one call being placed regarding this issue and the detailed physical descriptions I was providing to them wasn't even passed along.
It seem to me that in Ottawa, Crimestoppers doesn't care about poaching.
If you are a poacher Ottawa is a good place to live!
JasonM
