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Bookmark bayshorebroadcasting. ca to ensure you always have a direct connection to your trusted source for local news and information. Supplied File Image The Ontario government has announced that a commercial fisherman in Port Elgin has received a fine. A statement from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) indicates that Gregory R. Jackson, who operates a commercial fishing boat for Inland Sea Products on Lake Huron, pleaded guilty to obstructing a conservation officer and was fined $55,000. He also faced an additional fine of $5,000 for not adhering to his licence conditions. The court learned that the obstruction incident took place during February and March of 2018 when conservation officers went aboard Jackson’s fishing boat three times. Jackson claimed he left a commercial fish gill net in Lake Huron due to icy conditions. However, an investigation showed that the timeline and coordinates he provided were inaccurate. The MNRF stated that attempts to locate the nets were unsuccessful because he misled conservation officers repeatedly. Furthermore, on January 21, 2022, while conducting inspections in Goderich, conservation officers found out that Jackson had landed his catch without reporting it on a Daily Catch Report as required by his commercial fishing licence. The seized fish were later donated to OSHa RE, an organization providing hunger relief based in Owen Sound. Justice of the Peace Thomas Stinson heard both cases remotely at the Ontario Court of Justice in Goderich on November 28, 2022. The MNRF encourages anyone wanting to report issues related to natural resources or provide tips about unsolved cases to call their TIPS line toll free at 1-877-847-7667. You can also reach out anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS. For more details on unsolved cases, please visit ontario. ca/mnrftips.
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