Man fined $1,600 for overfishing Rainbow Trout near Alliston

November 14, 2013 · 0 Comments

A Woodbridge man has been fined $1,600 and issued a three-year fishing licence suspension for catching an over limit of rainbow trout.

Mario Saturnino pleaded guilty to possessing 32 rainbow trout in excess of his legal limit.

Court heard that on September 5, 2013, a conservation officer stopped Saturnino’s vehicle in a popular fishing area near Alliston. The officer inspected the vehicle and located a cooler containing 34 rainbow trout and two brook trout. The limit for rainbow trout caught under a Sport Fishing Licence in the area is two and the limit for brook trout is five. Saturnino also exceeded the provincial maximum aggregate limit for trout and salmon combined, which is five fish.

Justice of the Peace Anne-Marie Puusaari heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Barrie, on October 21, 2013.

The Ministry of Natural Resources reminds the public to consult the 2013 Recreational Fishing Regulations Summary, which is available at ontario.ca/fishing, for local possession limits, as well as the provincial maximum aggregate limit. If an angler catches any combination of brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, lake trout, splake, Pacific salmon or Atlantic salmon, he or she must not exceed the individual limit for that species and may not possess more than five in aggregate.

To report a natural resource violation, call 1-877-TIPS-MNR (847-7667) toll-free any time or contact your ministry office during regular business hours. You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).