American boater fined in northwestern Ontario for possessing gill nets

An American boater has been fined $2,500 by an Ontario court for illegally possessing on a northwestern Ontario lake fishing nets that are commonly used by commercial fishing vessels.

The man from International Falls, Minn. was found guilty in November, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry said in a press release issued Thursday.

According to the ministry, the man was boating on Rainy Lake near the Anchor Islands in June when conservation officers searched his vessel and found over 450 metres of gill netting.

The man was not permitted to have the large nets, which are typically dropped in the water and catch fish by hooking their gills. Provincial officials said they can only be used and possessed by authorized individuals.

The gill nets were seized and forfeited to the Crown, the ministry said.