Our Mission:
To safeguard the public interest by leading and delivering professional regulatory protection of Ontario's natural resources.
Enforcement News
- Court Rejects Claim Of Métis Harvesting Rights, Fines Man $40,000 (May 17, 2013) (pdf)
- $10,000 in Fines For Possessing And Listing For Sale Spiny Softshell Turtles (Mar 25, 2013) (pdf)
- $13,000 Fine for Unauthorized Filling of Lands on the Niagara Escarpment (Mar 27, 2013) (pdf)
- $5,000 Fine For Failing To Plug Gas Well (Apr 2, 2013) (pdf)
Ontario’s Conservation Officers Patrolling the Web
Ontario’s conservation officers spend much of their time patrolling the lakes, trails and back roads of the province’s great outdoors, both near and far. What you may not know is that they are also experienced cyber sleuths.
Increasingly, conservation officers are using the Internet as a special investigative tool. While the Internet is a wonderful medium for sharing information, it can also be used to facilitate illegal activities, such as the illicit trade in wildlife. This means officers conduct more and more cyber crime investigations.
Conservation officers now actively monitor the Internet and track down people who are using the web for the purpose of trafficking in Ontario’s fish and wildlife. They pay particular attention to wildlife trade on major on-line classified websites like Kijiji, eBay and Craig’s List.
In fact, officers have found people using the Internet to buy and sell such things as angler-caught fish, wildlife taxidermy and wild animal parts, such as skulls and meat. They have even come across people trying to sell live animals, including raccoons, skunks, amphibians and reptiles. This includes a number of cases that involved the illegal trade in endangered species.
The sale of Ontario wildlife – whole or in parts, alive or dead – is generally illegal and those prosecuted face significant penalties. It is also against the law to possess without a licence or permit most reptile, amphibian, mammal, bird and even some insect species.
The Ministry of Natural Resources enforces the laws against this illegal trafficking. The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act provides for penalties of up to $100,000 and two years in jail for persons convicted of these types of offences. Even heftier fines of up to $250,000 and a year in jail are possible under the Endangered Species Act.
What can you do about illegal fish and wildlife trafficking, whether on the web or in the wild? Report natural resources violations by calling 1-877-TIPS-MNR (847-7667) toll-free anytime or contacting your local ministry office during regular business hours. You can also call Crime stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
November 14, 2012
Multi-Agency Investigation Leads to $70,000 Fine and Jail Time for Selling Snakehead
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| Snakehead (Photo: USGS) |
Following a multi-agency, international undercover operation known as "Operation Serpent," a Toronto man and a Markham area business have been fined $70,000 for selling snakehead, an invasive fish species.
When victim surcharges and other penalties are added in, the total rises to $90,530.
Court heard that Muk Leung (Jim) Ip, 50, sold 228 snakehead fish at Lucky Aquarium in Markham on four occasions between June 2010 and January 2012. Some of these fish were unlawfully exported to New York State and Manitoba. As part of the plea agreement, Ip was arrested by U.S. authorities and taken into custody in New York State to answer to charges laid there.
Ip has been sentenced to 60 days in jail and fined $10,000 for illegally selling snakehead. He also has to return $3,000 he received for selling the fish. Lucky Aquarium of Markham has been fined $60,000 for illegally selling snakehead.
MOVING LIVE FISH
Many new populations of fish have been established through unauthorized stocking. This practice is illegal and can cause great harm to existing fisheries and aquatic ecosystems.
A licence is required for all fish (including live spawn) transfers and stocking into Ontario waters, and a licence is required to ship or transport live fish, other than baitfish, taken from Ontario waters. Also, take care when cleaning smelt. Do not rinse equipment or dump entrails into a lake or river. Fertilized smelt eggs can easily invade new waters.
Welcome to Enforcement
For more than 100 years, Conservation Officers have been protecting Ontario's natural resources from waste, abuse and depletion. It's a big job with a rich history.
Ontario's Conservation Officers patrol a province of more than 1 million square kilometers, protecting wildlife as diverse as polar bears in the north and prickly pear cactus in south. In between are 250,000 lakes, hundreds of rivers and a vast expanse of forests.
Enforcement staff includes: Appointed Conservation Officers and Supervisors working across Ontario in field offices in 25 districts and 3 Great Lakes Units, intelligence/investigation staff, main office staff and Provincial Communications Unit staff.
Enforcement efforts cover all MNR program areas including; Fish and Wildlife, Forestry, Lands/Waters, Species at Risk, Petroleum, Parks, Agriculture, Fire and Aggregates.
The Enforcement Branch also maintains specialized services that support field enforcement including canine, special investigations, and training/learning.
Risk-based Approach to Compliance
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| It is illegal to abandon fish and game or allow it to spoil. |
The Ministry is moving towards a formalized risk-based approach to compliance.
- The new compliance framework will be based on risk assessment principles that will enable the MNR to focus its work and response to incidents on the risk posed to:
- human health and safety
- our natural resources and
- the economy
- The risk-based compliance framework will enable the Ministry to focus their enforcement resources on the area of greatest risk. These will include:
- Focusing proactive work on areas of highest risk
- Prioritizing incident/complaint response based on risk
- Prioritizing resources for special investigations based on risk
The mandate of the Enforcement Branch is to provide effective regulatory protection of Ontario's natural resources, environment and public safety. MNR enforces 27 Acts and Regulations and administers 45 Acts and Regulations.
