Five anglers fined for fishing in Lock 19 sanctuary

Five anglers from the Greater Toronto Area have been fined a total of $2,600 for violating Ontario’s fishery regulations by fishing in a fish sanctuary at Lock 19 in Peterborough.

Amro Morsi Ellithy, Ziad Gaber and Marawan Abdelmegid, all of Mississauga, and Zein Haj Ali, of Oakville, pleaded guilty to fishing in a fish sanctuary during an appearance in the Ontario Court of Justice in Peterborough on Sept. 13 before Justice of the Peace Jason Mariasine.

Each received a $400 fine, was given a two-year fishing licence suspension and forfeited their fishing equipment to the Crown.

Aly Gomaa, of Mississauga, pleaded guilty to the same offence.

He was fined $1,000 and was given a five-year fishing licence suspension.

Court heard that in the early morning of May 12, Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry conservation officers observed the anglers fishing in a fish sanctuary at Lock 19 in Peterborough.

The area was clearly posted to indicate that the sanctuary was still in effect.

Gomaa, who had caught and retained a walleye, was previously convicted of the same offence at the same location two years earlier.

The ministry is reminding anglers that fishing regulations are in place to maintain a sustainable fishery for future generations to enjoy.

The Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary is posted at ontario.ca/fishing.

To report a natural resources violation, call the ministry’s tip-s line at 1-877-847-7667 toll-free any time or contact a local ministry office during regular business hours, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.

An interactive, searchable map of unsolved cases is posted at Ontario.ca/mnrftips for anyone who can provide information that will help solve a case.