Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources says it is “actively” investigating reports of illegal fishing practices within Lake Ontario tributaries.
However, a spokesperson for the department couldn’t comment specifically on a recent TikTok video that was shared to other social media sites purporting to show conservation officers “busting” salmon poachers in Bowmanville, 75 kilometres east of Toronto.
In the video, several large salmon are laid out on the ground before two people begin loading the fish into a cooler beside a parked vehicle. Enforcement officers can be seen off to the side before one official begins writing on a notepad.
“Where incidents have been reported, they are actively under investigation,” said the spokesperson.
“As this remains an active investigation, we are unable to provide any further comment at this time.”
Last month, officials in Clarington reportedly agreed at a council meeting to ask the province to increase enforcement after another video of what appears to be illegal fishing went viral.
According to that video, people can be seen using nets to scoop salmon out of Bowmanville Creek, home to the annual salmon run. That led to city council asking for more conservation officers in Durham Region.
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MP Jamil Jivani said his office was told multiple charges were laid at the time.
“Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officers attended to the matter and numerous federal and provincial charges were laid against the offenders,” he told durhamregion.com.
Anyone with information that may assist conservation officers can contact the ministry’s TIPS line toll free at 1-877-847-7667.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at durhamregionalcrimestoppers.ca.