As per the news report Kenny Drake, the president of the P.E.I. Fisherman’s Association, was sailed into his homeport last May 25 knowing full well that fisheries officers were checking landings for illegal lobsters. He was having trouble with the measuring gauge and his good day tunred into bad misfortune.
After checking the fisheries officers that Drake has supported illegal catches. He served on numerous industry conservation boards and had been fishing for more than 30 years. He pulled up to the wharf and chatted with those around the dock while officers searched through his catch. But when they discovered females laden with eggs and undersized canners, Drake’s heart went to his throat.
It is told that Drake’s son suddenly quit the boat and he found a hired man only a few days before the incident and knew he was having difficulty conducting proper measurements. But the veteran fishermen couldn’t believe his eyes when officers found illegal lobsters in his catch. That’s what provincial court Judge Nancy Orr was told on Thursday, Aug. 6 when Kenneth Bloyce Drake appeared before her facing two charges of violating the Fisheries Act.
Drake accepted the charges and pled guilty. Judge Orr was told by the crown that Drake was very co-operative and very remorseful about the discovery and all illegal lobsters were released back to the water. However the crown also insisted that Drake was in a “position of trust” since he was the president of the Fisherman’s Association.
