THUNDER BAY — A Sault Ste. Marie man who pleaded guilty to selling baitfish without a licence for commercial purposes received a fine of $2,000.
Joshua Schill was also fined an additional $1,200 for failing to make an annual return or keep a logbook.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry released details of the case, which was tried before a Thunder Bay Justice of the Peace earlier this month.
The court heard that in February 2021 a conservation officer inspected commercial baitfish traps set through the ice on Furcate Lake near Dorion.
The traps were marked with Schill's commercial baitfish licence number.
Further investigation revealed that he was selling baitfish out of his Thunder Bay-based business, Wiggley Baits, without a valid baitfish harvester and dealer licence, and that he failed to submit his mandatory annual return.
A subsequent inspection of the Silver Minnow Bait shop, which he also owned, revealed that the baitfish logbook was not being maintained.