| 21/11/2005
– Environment Canada’s wildlife enforcement branch, in
cooperation with other federal, provincial and U.S. government
agencies, conducted a series of border crossing inspections
or “border blitzes” at six Canadian border crossings and
airports in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba this fall.
The Enforcement Campaign resulted in over 1500 hunters
and fishermen being checked by officers in order to ensure
compliance of various fish and wildlife regulations.
A total of $21, 457 in fines were issued. In addition,
142 enforcement actions were initiated, including 69 charges
laid and 73 written warnings. Numerous seizures were made
by the various enforcement agencies involved, including
over 280 migratory game birds, 100 fish, eight sets of
deer antlers, one set of elk antlers, one black bear skull
and hide, one moose antler, large quantities of processed
waterfowl and deer meat, and even whale parts.
The most common offence under the federal Migratory Birds
Convention Act was over-possession of migratory game birds
and transporting migratory game birds without having at
least one fully feathered wing attached for identification
purposes. The most common offences discovered under the
federal Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation
of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (WAPPRIITA)
was illegally transporting wildlife out of a province
without an export permit and transporting illegally possessed
wildlife. There were also numerous offences against various
Provincial Fish and Wildlife Acts and Regulations.
The “border blitzes” were conducted between September
24th and October 23rd, 2005, at the height of the migratory
game bird hunting season, and involved the Canadian Border
Services Agency, Alberta Fish and Wildlife, Saskatchewan
Environment, Manitoba Conservation, the RCMP, United States
Customs and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service,
all of whom assisted Environment Canada in inspecting
the vehicles and shipments of persons transporting fish
and wildlife out of Canada.
Under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, Canada and the
United States coordinate efforts to ensure long-term conservation
of migratory bird populations. The maximum penalty on
summary conviction for each violation under the Migratory
Birds Convention Act is $50,000 and/or six months in jail.
The Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of
International and Interprovincial Trade Act (WAPPRIITA)
protects Canadian and foreign animal and plant species
from illegal trade. The maximum penalty on summary conviction
for each violation under WAPPRIITA is $25,000 and/or six
months in jail. |
