Wednesday, September 15, 2004

Trout Nova Scotia - For Immediate Release:

Halifax, NS: September 8, 2004

On August 10th at the Sheet Harbour Provincial Court House, two men from Hants County were fined $1500 each for poaching wild brook trout. This is the largest fine ever issued in Nova Scotia and one of the largest in Canada for such an offence.

The two men, identified in the September 15, 2004, edition of the Chronicle Herald as Clayton George Maidment, 55, and Stephen Russell Ward, 47, were fishing in the Tangier Grand Lake Wilderness Area in Halifax County on the Victoria Day weekend. Federal Fisheries Officer Tim Owen and Provincial Conservation Officer Dave Dauphinee apprehended the two individuals with sixty-two trout in their possession. This was well in excess of the five trout per day possession limit.

The importance of these large fines cannot be understated. Wild brook trout populations in Nova Scotia have been in rapid decline over the last twenty years. From 1980 to 2000, estimates show catch rates down close to 60 percent. Maintaining and enforcing trout bag limits is crucial to the survival of the species as it allows more trout to mature and reproduce.

Trout fishing is important to the Nova Scotia economy. A sport fishing survey conducted by Nova Scotia Inland Fisheries in 2000 indicated that the recreational fishery contributed over $20 million to the provincial economy on an annual basis. Of the roughly 60,000 recreational fishing licenses sold in 2000, over 70 percent targeted trout as their main species.

"This is a monumental court decision for this province," said Trout Nova Scotia President, Jamie Steeves. "We hope these steep fines will deter individuals from exceeding their possession limit in the future. It also sends a clear message to poachers that enforcement officers and other anglers are watching, even in remote areas."

Trout Nova Scotia commends the work of Mr. Owen and Mr. Dauphinee. "These men worked extremely hard to track and apprehend these individuals. It goes to show you what can be accomplished when federal and provincial enforcement officers work together to protect our valuable trout resource. We look forward to working cooperatively with both levels of government to protect and conserve our wild trout and trout habitat throughout the province," said Steeves.

Trout Nova Scotia is a non-profit organization that strives to create a sustainable trout fishery within the province for future generations. Trout Nova Scotia works with all levels of government and various conservation organizations to develop programs and policies that have a positive impact on trout, trout habitat and sustainable trout fishing practices.

For more information, contact: Jamie Steeves, President, Trout Nova Scotia at (902) 823-1839.

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