The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry has developed a new tool for reporting natural resource violations and providing information on unsolved cases.
Can you help solve any of the cases?
Here are just two of the many unsolved cases:
Unsolved: Abandoned nets located near Jackson Island in Whitefish Bay
Summary: In May 2017, MNRF conservation officers discovered an abandoned net located near Jackson Island in Whitefish Bay on Lake Superior.
The gillnet was marked on one end with a blue detergent bottle tied to a wooden pole.
Approximately 750 yards of gillnet were removed from the water containing badly decayed fish.
Most of the fish had already rotted out of the nets, leaving pieces of skin and bones behind in the net.
The nets were badly damaged and full of debris but were still set and did not appear to have drifted.
Location: Fisheries Management Zone 9, Jackson Island in Whitefish Bay, Lake Superior
Occurrence number: RM17004929
Date: September 2016 – May 2017
*****
Unsolved: Abandoned Nets near Montreal River results in significant fish loss
Summary: In January 2017, MNRF conservation officers discovered an abandoned net located near the mouth of the Montreal River in Lake Superior.
Each end of the net was marked with a single yellow plastic jug.
The net was actively fishing at the time of retrieval.
Over 150 pounds of fish were removed from the net, including over 90 pounds of walleye, in varying states of decomposition.
The amount of fish would have been significantly higher however a large quantity rotted out of the net.
Location: Fisheries Management Zone 9, at the mouth of the Montreal River in Lake Superior
Occurrence number: RM17000289
Date: September 2016 – January 2017
More unsolved cases can be found at: https://www.ontario.ca/page/solve-natural-resource-case.
From the MNRF Website: “Every year, a number of natural resource violation cases go unsolved. They can be difficult to solve because they happen in remote areas where there are few eyewitnesses.
Our conservation officers make over 170,000 contacts with citizens in the field each year. We rely on tips from the public, physical evidence and community support to help solve these cases.”
Report any suspected illegal activity you’ve seen against Ontario’s fish and wildlife, species at risk, shore lands, forests, provincial parks and conservation reserves, petroleum, aggregate resources and public lands.
Violations of our natural resources can lead to conviction and fines.
Visit the website link above or call MNRF Tips if you have any information at 1-877-847-7667.
stewards of the environment is their new tagline apparently
This is a grotesque abuse of the natural fishing environment in Lake Superior. Those caught should be handed the full extreme of the law. I fish almost every week year round for the enjoyment and the food for my family. This is sickening to think large amounts of fish have perished for nothing.
This is enough to make your blood boil.
There is not near enough control over netting. All gill nets should have government issued floats with the band members name and number on them, nothing else should be allowed to be used.
Trout populations are almost gone from this irresponsible over netting.
This is just the tip of the iceberg, the moose and deer populations are being decimated by massive over hunting, many illegally selling the meat.
It’s the beginning of the end if something isn’t done quickly. You can’t tell me that the people responsible are thinking about their future generations.
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