Post by LawrenceCoBowhunter on May 30, 2007 9:21:30 GMT -5
Hunter fined $10,000 for wildlife violations
SASKATOON, May 29 /CNW Telbec/ - An American hunter has been sentenced in
Provincial Court to a fine of $10,000 for three counts of violating federal
wildlife conservation legislation in connection with illegally hunting
waterfowl in the Cumberland Marsh area of Saskatchewan in 2003.
William C. Braden III of Houston, Texas pleaded guilty to three counts of
exceeding daily bag limits for ducks under the federal Migratory Birds
Convention Act, 1994. Under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994, the fine
imposed by the Court is allocated to the Environmental Damages Fund. The Fund,
administered by Environment Canada, provides courts with a way to ensure that
financial penalties are directed to address environmental damages.
The charges were laid by Environment Canada game officers, following a
two-year investigation dubbed "Operation Overboard," conducted jointly with
Saskatchewan Environment and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The
investigation centred on illegal hunting activities conducted at Mistik Lodge
near Cumberland House in 2002 and 2003. Cumberland House is located
approximately 400 km northeast of Saskatoon.
Fines and forfeitures totalling $85,000 have been assessed as a result of
Operation Overboard. The investigation resulted in four North Carolina hunters
being fined $27,000 after pleading guilty in September 2004 to nine counts of
violating federal and provincial wildlife conservation legislation. Additional
equipment with an estimated value of $10,500 was forfeited, including
firearms, clothing, cameras, and ammunition. The North Carolina hunters also
donated $4,000 to the Environmental Damages Fund. Three other South Carolina
hunters paid fines totalling $2,570 for offences they committed while hunting
at Mistik Lodge in 2002.
In March 2005, a Cumberland House waterfowl hunting outfitter and three
guides pleaded guilty to a total of 51 counts under federal and provincial
wildlife conservation legislation. They were fined $30,000 in relation to
their actions which occurred over a period of two years and included
counselling their clientele to exceed daily duck hunting limits and to refrain
from retrieving birds that were shot.
The maximum penalty on summary conviction for each offence under the
Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 is a fine of $300,000, or six months
imprisonment, or both.
SASKATOON, May 29 /CNW Telbec/ - An American hunter has been sentenced in
Provincial Court to a fine of $10,000 for three counts of violating federal
wildlife conservation legislation in connection with illegally hunting
waterfowl in the Cumberland Marsh area of Saskatchewan in 2003.
William C. Braden III of Houston, Texas pleaded guilty to three counts of
exceeding daily bag limits for ducks under the federal Migratory Birds
Convention Act, 1994. Under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994, the fine
imposed by the Court is allocated to the Environmental Damages Fund. The Fund,
administered by Environment Canada, provides courts with a way to ensure that
financial penalties are directed to address environmental damages.
The charges were laid by Environment Canada game officers, following a
two-year investigation dubbed "Operation Overboard," conducted jointly with
Saskatchewan Environment and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The
investigation centred on illegal hunting activities conducted at Mistik Lodge
near Cumberland House in 2002 and 2003. Cumberland House is located
approximately 400 km northeast of Saskatoon.
Fines and forfeitures totalling $85,000 have been assessed as a result of
Operation Overboard. The investigation resulted in four North Carolina hunters
being fined $27,000 after pleading guilty in September 2004 to nine counts of
violating federal and provincial wildlife conservation legislation. Additional
equipment with an estimated value of $10,500 was forfeited, including
firearms, clothing, cameras, and ammunition. The North Carolina hunters also
donated $4,000 to the Environmental Damages Fund. Three other South Carolina
hunters paid fines totalling $2,570 for offences they committed while hunting
at Mistik Lodge in 2002.
In March 2005, a Cumberland House waterfowl hunting outfitter and three
guides pleaded guilty to a total of 51 counts under federal and provincial
wildlife conservation legislation. They were fined $30,000 in relation to
their actions which occurred over a period of two years and included
counselling their clientele to exceed daily duck hunting limits and to refrain
from retrieving birds that were shot.
The maximum penalty on summary conviction for each offence under the
Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 is a fine of $300,000, or six months
imprisonment, or both.
