SASKATOON, SK – May 29,
2007 – An American hunter has been sentenced
in Provincial Court to a fine of $10,000
for three counts of violating federal wildlife
conservation legislation in connection with
illegally hunting waterfowl in the Cumberland
Marsh area of Saskatchewan in 2003.
William C. Braden III of Houston, Texas
pleaded guilty to three counts of exceeding
daily bag limits for ducks under the federal
Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994. Under
the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994,
the fine imposed by the Court is allocated
to the Environmental Damages Fund. The Fund,
administered by Environment Canada, provides
courts with a way to ensure that financial
penalties are directed to address environmental
damages.
The charges were laid by Environment Canada
game officers, following a two-year investigation
dubbed “Operation Overboard,” conducted
jointly with Saskatchewan Environment and
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The
investigation centred on illegal hunting
activities conducted at Mistik Lodge near
Cumberland House in 2002 and 2003. Cumberland
House is located approximately 400 km northeast
of Saskatoon.
Fines and forfeitures totalling $85,000
have been assessed as a result of Operation
Overboard. The investigation resulted in
four North Carolina hunters being fined
$27,000 after pleading guilty in September
2004 to nine counts of violating federal
and provincial wildlife conservation legislation.
Additional equipment with an estimated value
of $10,500 was forfeited, including firearms,
clothing, cameras, and ammunition. The North
Carolina hunters also donated $4,000 to
the Environmental Damages Fund. Three other
South Carolina hunters paid fines totalling
$2,570 for offences they committed while
hunting at Mistik Lodge in 2002.
In March 2005, a Cumberland House waterfowl
hunting outfitter and three guides pleaded
guilty to a total of 51 counts under federal
and provincial wildlife conservation legislation.
They were fined $30,000 in relation to their
actions which occurred over a period of
two years and included counselling their
clientele to exceed daily duck hunting limits
and to refrain from retrieving birds that
were shot.
The maximum penalty on summary conviction
for each offence under the Migratory Birds
Convention Act, 1994 is a fine of $300,000,
or six months imprisonment, or both.
For more information, please contact:
Brian Petrar
Assistant Regional Director
Wildlife Enforcement Division
