Leamington fisherman fined $20K for multiple violations

A Leamington fishing boat captain was ordered to pay $20,000 after he pleaded guilty to 24 commercial fishing violations.

Paolo Adragna pleaded guilty to violating the terms and conditions of a commercial fishing licence and was fined $18,000.

On Oct. 1, 2015, a conservation officer with the Southern Marine Enforcement Unit and port observer with the Lake Erie Management Unit inspected Adragna’s vessel the Kimmy Sue in Kingsville.

The officer discovered and seized 76 yellow perch gill nets and a log book for further examination. The ministry said 40 of the gill nets had undersized mesh, a violation of Adragna’s licence conditions.

In a separate investigation, a conservation officer audited Adragna’s seized log book and compared the information to the daily catch reports he submitted to the ministry.

The officer determined that between April 1, 2015, and Oct. 1, 2015, Adragna had not kept an accurate and complete commercial fishing logbook.

He was also found to have fished as far as 12.7 kilometres outside Essex County waters where he was licensed to fish.

This resulted in about 594 kilograms of yellow perch and 1,979 kilograms of walleye from the wrong quota zone.

The court ordered Adragna to install GPS units on any vessel he operates to be monitored by the ministry for a period of two years. He also turned over the 40 illegal gill nets.

In addition to the $18,000, 1495691 Ontario Limited of Leamington, of which Adragna is a director, pleaded guilty to violating the terms and conditions of its commercial fishing licence and was fined $2,000.

To report a natural resources violation call 1-877-847-7667 or anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 519-258-8477.