MONTRÉAL, Que.
-- September 28, 2011 -- The Quebec component
of an investigation into the illegal trade
of Queen Conches, initiated in October 2006
by Environment Canada, the United States
Fish and Wildlife Service, and fisheries
officers from the United States National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
ended in a guilty verdict and a fine totalling
$40,000 for Michael Angelakis. This investigation
was conducted in Quebec by Environment Canada's
Wildlife Enforcement Directorate from several
regions in the country.
Angelakis, 31, from
Laval, was found guilty on Monday, September
26, in Montréal Provincial Court.
Angelakis was accused of importing a shipment
of Queen Conches (Strombus gigas) into Canada
without an export permit under the Columbia
Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Not having a CITES permit is a violation
under the Wild Animal and Plant Protection
and Regulation of International and Interprovincial
Trade Act.
Following a joint declaration
of facts, Angelakis was given a $40,000
fine payable to the Environmental Damages
Fund. In consideration of this, Angelakis
was given an absolute discharge by the court.
The Queen Conch, also
known as the pink conch, is a large local
mollusc--the flesh of which is highly sought
after--found in the waters of 36 Caribbean
countries. The species is protected under
the CITES.
Operation Shell Game,
which began in 2006, required the participation
of wildlife officers from Environment Canada
and Florida. Canadian and U.S. border authorities
also contributed to the investigation.
CITES is an international
agreement that regulates the trade of certain
wild animal and plant species, including
their parts, organs and by-products. In
Canada, CITES is enforced under the Wild
Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation
of International and Interprovincial Trade
Act.
Environment Canada and
the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
are responsible for enforcing the federal
laws in their respective countries governing
the trade of wild species, including endangered
species and invasive species, and for protecting
species at risk, migratory birds and protected
areas for wild species. To report the smuggling
or trafficking of endangered species or
any violation of federal laws pertaining
to the protection of wild species, the public
is invited to contact Environment Canada
by telephone at 1-800-668-6767 (toll free)
or by e-mail at enviro@info.ec.gc.ca.
Environment Canada has
created a subscription service to help the
public stay current with what the Government
of Canada is doing to protect our natural
environment. Subscribing to Environment
Canada's Enforcement Notifications is easy,
and free. Sign up today.
+ More
Open Invitation to the
Public to Observe Thousands of Greater Snow
Geese Migrate through the Cap Tourmente
National Wildlife Area
QUÉBEC, Que.
- September 26, 2011 - Nature lovers, photographers,
birdwatchers and hikers are cordially invited
to come to Environment Canada's Cap Tourmente
National Wildlife Area to witness, until
October 30, 2011, the passage of the thousands
of Greater Snow Geese that will flock to
the flats of the St. Lawrence River in search
of food.
Nature guides will welcome
the public every day from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30
p.m. to help them discover the Greater Snow
Goose in its natural habitat. Visitors can
learn more about the fall migration, reproduction,
feeding, winter range and evolution of this
unique population. To further their knowledge
of the natural world, visitors can use their
visit to observe many other species of birds,
including an astonishing diversity of birds
of prey. These birds can be observed on
a network of 20 km of trails, some of which
offer a magnificent view of the St. Lawrence
River. Since 1973, 324 species of birds
have been recorded at this site, which is
recognized as an internationally important
wetland.
Visitors who are curious
about the numbers of geese that pass through
the Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area
can visit the Nature section of the Environment
Canada website at http://www.ec.gc.ca/.
Cap Tourmente National
Wildlife Area is open from 8:30 a.m. to
5:00 p.m. until October 30. Admission is
$6 for adults and $5 for students. Children
under 12 who are accompanied by a parent
are admitted free of charge. Telescopes,
a binoculars rental service, a Geotour,
a BioKit and a historical trail are available
on site to facilitate your observations.
For more information, call 418-827-4591
or e-mail at cap.tourmente@ec.gc.ca.
The Cap Tourmente National
Wildlife Area is part of a Canadian network
of 146 protected areas established to protect
critical habitats for wildlife species,
some of which are at risk.
