One of the fish left to rot after being dumped off a Nipissing First Nation back road. Photos by Larry Bonney.
Nipissing first Nation Chief Marianna Couchie wants to see random fish dumping on her reserve stopped.
“We don’t have a fish dump on our reserve. It’s not condoned by us," she told BayToday.
“We have too much garbage that is dumped by people on our back roads and we’re always trying to clean up their messes."
Couchie was reacting to pictures and video shot May 23rd of a fish dump on the side of Mooz Miikan Rd.
But she's clearly not happy that photos and a video were taken.
"Whoever is providing pictures has never contacted our office about his concerns. I would want to know where on the reserve he found these and if he was driving on our back roads, I’d be asking him what he was doing there."
However, a nearby sign clearly indicates that the area is under video surveillance, but Couchie says she doesn't know if pictures of the person doing the dumping are available.
A call to NFN manager of natural resources Clint Couchie requesting information was not returned.
"I've been hearing about them (the dumps) since last August," said Larry Bonney, who took the photos and video. "But that's the first time I've seen them."
He's upset by the waste.
Bonney estimates there were 60-70 fish that were dumped to rot including pike, muskie, sheepshead and bass, but no pickerel.
He says of the waste,"it's ridiculous".
He then tried to contact the MNR several times, and MP Jay Aspin's office.
"I finally got a live person (at the MNR), a secretary or something. She told me I'd have to call the 1-800 tip line and leave a message.
"I said I didn't want to leave a message, I want to talk to a real, live breathing person."
Bonney says he was told, "That's not how we do things".
Frustrated, Bonney says he later saw MNR guys in their truck.
"I chased them down and was told, 'Nothing we can do'. They called the dumped fish "bycatch".
Bonney says he was told they've "tried to take them to court in the past, and the case gets thrown out so now they don't even bother."
In a written response, Jolanta Kowalski, Sr. Media Relations Officer said," What is MNRF doing about the dead fish that appear to have been wasted? What are possible consequences to someone who wastes fish?
"In this case, any information about wasted fish on reserve land will be passed on to the Anishinabec Police Services. Depending on the situation, a person can be convicted of an offence under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act and be liable to a fine of not more than $25,000, to imprisonment for a term of not more than one year, or to both."
Kowalski added, "What we said is that MNRF Conservation Officers work with the First Nations when following up on information such as this, particularly if the fish are on reserve land. It’s also acknowledged that there may be disposal of non-targeted fish during the commercial fishing process, and an investigation will determine steps that should be taken."
You can see the video of the fish dump here, but with a caution. It contains course language and unsettling images.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPxFkoVxvgc
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