Ontario Protecting Fish Populations

The Ontario government is safeguarding fish populations by ensuring anglers follow the rules when retaining and packaging their caught fish.

James Shoemake of St. Francisville, Louisiana, pleaded guilty to possession of unlawfully packaged fish that could not be accurately counted or identified under the Ontario Fishery Regulations. He was fined $3,000 and received a five-year fishing licence suspension.

Michael Williams of St. Francisville, Louisiana, pleaded guilty to possession of unlawfully

packaged fish that could not be accurately counted or identified under the Ontario Fishery Regulations. He was fined $5,125 and received a one-year fishing licence suspension.

The court heard that on June 7, 2024, conservation officers were conducting fisheries inspections of vehicles exiting Canada to the United States at the Fort Frances border crossing. Officers inspected the truck of two individuals from Louisiana who were returning from Lake of the Woods and located four large bags of frozen, cut and skinned fish in a cooler.

The fish were seized and later counted. It was determined the bags contained 100 pieces of cut up fish flesh. The size of the fish pieces and lack of skin made it difficult to determine the number or species of fish without further forensic analysis. All fish caught and retained by anglers must be packaged in a manner that is easy for conservation officers to count and identify.

Justice of the Peace Jerry M. Woods heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Fort Frances, on May 22, 2025.

To report a natural resource problem or provide information about an unsolved case, members of the public can call the ministry TIPS line toll free at 1-877-847-7667. You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS. For more information about unsolved cases, please visit ontario.ca/mnrtips.