Southwestern Nova Scotia has seen yet another steep fine in a case of fishing untagged lobster traps in the region. The court has also forfeited seized catch valued at $21,785. Shelburne County fisherman John Peter Atwood, 61, was found guilty in provincial court in Barrington and was slapped huge fine for fishing untagged traps and possessing v-notched female lobsters.
As Atwood is a first-time offender he was handed this much fine and he will be suspended from fishing during the final two weeks of the 2008/09 season. The case of Atwood’s illegal fishing activity was revealed as a result of an undercover operation carried out by DFO, in which the department secretly marked lobsters while they were at sea.
After a surprise raid to Atwood boat the officers found 15 of the marked lobsters among Atwood’s catch when his boat was inspected at a wharf in Cape Sable Island in December. They also found nine v-notched lobsters in the catch. It is well-noted fact that v-notching lobster is a conservation measure and these lobsters are supposed to be returned to the water.
According to DFO this case involved 50 untagged traps. It said that there were similar cases happened before in which the fines were huge and the court forfeited the seized lobsters.
