Sale of tainted fish nets plant a $3,000 fine

News Release
MNR

A Kenora fish processing plant and a resident of Kenora have been fined a total of $3,000 after pleading guilty to having for sale tainted fish intended for human consumption. Also, a Grassy Narrows man has been fined $500 for illegally selling tainted fish and making a false statement.
King Fisheries (2004) Inc. and Perry Heatherington, 55, of Kenora, have been fined $2,000 and $1,000 respectively. George Assin, 61, of Grassy Narrows, has been fined $500 after pleading guilty on November 7, 2006.
The court heard that Ministry of Natural Resources Kenora District conservation officers conducted a routine inspection of King Fisheries in early September 2005. The officers suspected that Assin was selling fish harvested from Grassy Narrows Lake. Walleye, northern pike and perch harvested from Grassy Narrows Lake cannot be commercially sold to the public because of high levels of mercury contamination. Assin was designated to fish for Perry Heatherington, who held a licence for Oak Lake.
After conducting a field surveillance operation, the officers determined that Assin had harvested the fish in Grassy Narrows Lake, although he had reported that the fish had been caught in Oak Lake in his Daily Catch Reports.
The seized fish showed at least double the allowable mercury level when tested by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in Winnipeg.
Justice of the Peace Joe Morrison heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Kenora, on December 12, 2006.
The Ministry of Natural Resources enforces the Fish Inspection Act, which protects the public from being sold tainted, decomposed or unwholesome fish.