PICTOU – A Pictou man has fined $1,000 for failing to produce slips proving the purchase of lobster this past summer.
Robert Edward Poirier was sentenced Monday in Pictou provincial court after pleading guilty to failing to provide information related to harvesting, purchasing or the sale of lobster.
The Crown said Poirier had asked the Department of Fisheries for purchase slips in April and they were provided but when DFO requested to see them a few months later, Poirier was unable to produce them.
As part of its investigation, DFO spoke with someone who purchased $100,000 worth of lobster from Poirier who had receipts to prove it so officers went back to Poirier looking for the purchase slips in early August, which he again failed to produce.
Judge Del Atwood agreed with the Crown that a $1,000 fine was adequate and stressed that regulations are in place to help with conservation efforts.
