Newfoundland man convicted of salmon netting; not allowed in his own backyard

"Tiny salmon swimming in a stream …"

Newfoundland's Carson Tulk was convicted netting salmon last month but disagrees with the punishment he was given. He believes the punishment was "too harsh."

Tulk was fined $6000 for the incident, as well as convicted of obstructing a Department of Fisheries guardian and banned from recreational fishing for life.

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His sentence states that he must stay a minimum of 50 metres away from any inland waters for five years. Unless he is driving over water in a vehicle (such as a bridge) he is not allowed near water, not even on a boat.

That presents a bit of a problem when his own backyard backs onto the mouth of a brook, with inland waters approximately 90 metres away!

“I lives … only 300 feet from inland waters right … right on the borderline, not allowed in me garden by rights,” he said.

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Although he understands the conviction, he believes the courts are simply making an example out of him so that other fisherman will take the fishing laws more seriously.

“They got right strict on that stuff, right? So I mean, drunk drivers get off with nothing, I got penalized for five years.”

According to the Atlantic Salmon Federation, others have been fined for illegally netting salmon. In May of 2013, an 18-foot fiberglass boat and outboard motor were seized as part of an investigation on illegal salmon netting. One man was fined $6000 and prohibited from waters for 10 years.

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