Locals fined for illegal spearfishing

Four Barrie residents fined for illegal fishing practices.

Conservation officers were conducting angler inspections in Clarington in the early hours of September 15, 2023, when four males were seen in and around the water below Bowmanville Dam.

“The four were entering to fish while using techniques other than angling and were all in possession of several illegally caught salmon. In total, six salmon, a spear, a large net and fishing rods with large high hooks attached were seized,” the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry said in a press release.

Basil Mathew pleaded guilty to possessing a spear within 30 meters of the water’s edge, trespassing for the purpose of fishing and fishing by means other than fishing. He was fined $3,250 and suspended from fishing for a year.

Emil Eldhose, Denny Varughese and Vishnu Viruthy-Mohanan pleaded guilty to trespassing for fishing purposes and fishing by means other than angling. Each was fined $2,000 and suspended from fishing for a year.

The case was heard at the Ontario Court of Justice in Whitby on March 6.