KENORA – Crimebeat – When problems happen in the outdoors, the cost is to all of the people in our region who hunt and fish. Two Wisconsin men have been fined a total of $1,500 for unlawfully harvesting baitfish and leaving boats on Crown land.
Dan and Charles Schafer, both of Chippewa Falls, pleaded guilty and were fined $500 each for unlawfully harvesting baitfish for commercial purposes. Charles Schafer was fined an additional $500 for leaving a boat on Crown land.
The court heard that Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officers received information that someone was harvesting bait for commercial purposes in an area that was not assigned to them.
The officers investigated and discovered that in the summer of 2011, Dan Schafer had directed Charles Schafer to harvest baitfish along the McDonald Road, north of Minaki in Kenora District. This was outside of the area in which they were licensed to harvest, and was within another baitfish harvester’s territory.
While conducting the investigation, officers also located a boat on a small walleye lake. It was determined that Charles Schafer had placed the boat there and had been warned for the same offence the year prior.
Justice of the Peace Robert McNally heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Kenora, on August 14, 2012.
To report a natural resources violation, call 1-877-TIPS-MNR (847-7667) toll-free any time or contact your local ministry office during regular business hours. You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).