The government is safeguarding the fish populations by ensuring baitfish dealers don’t sell bait that could be contaminated.
Adam Mujanovic of Lucknow pleaded guilty to failing to comply with the conditions of his commercial baitfish licence and was fined $2,000.
Geoffroy Giroux of Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, pleaded guilty to failing to stop for a conservation officer, unlawfully buying baitfish for commercial purposes and unlawfully possessing more than 120 baitfish. He was fined a total of $2,000.
The court heard that on February 8, 2021, a conservation officer was on his way to conduct a snowmobile patrol on Lake Nipissing when he observed an individual transferring Emerald Shiners from one vehicle to a container in another. Giroux saw the conservation officer and tried to evade him and was subsequently arrested. Giroux did not have a licence to commercially buy or sell baitfish in Ontario, and 21,600 shiners were seized.
The court also heard that Mujanovic – who sold Giroux the shiners – failed to follow several conditions of his licence, which are put in place to ensure disease is not transmitted to other fish through the use of baitfish.
Justice of the Peace Monique Mechefske heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, North Bay, on January 23, 2024.
To report a natural resource problem or provide information about an unsolved case, members of the public can call the ministry TIPS line toll free at 1-877-847-7667. You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS. For more information about unsolved cases, please visit ontario.ca/mnrftips.