Steep fines handed out to non-local fish poachers

Posted on January 16, 2025 by Vauxhall Advance

Southern Alberta Newspapers

 On Jan. 7 in Taber court, two High River men, Albert Mangsat, 36, and Carl Arellano, 40, pleaded guilty to exceeding possession limits and angling with more than one line while fishing in local waters.

 On Oct. 13, 2024, fish and wildlife officers received a tip about two individuals fishing in the Rolling Hills reservoir at a campground bridge between the reservoir and Lake Newell. The complainant told officers that one of the fishermen had retained a walleye and placed it in his vehicle, violating the catch-and-release only regulations in that area.

 Officers later located the men’s Toyota Rav 4 on a Hwy 36 bridge over the Bow River. The officers sat and observed the two men as they continued to fish. Each was using two fishing lines and landed several walleye between them, which they placed in a bag at the water’s edge before taking them back to the vehicle.

 The fishing regulations on the Bow River stipulated that the limit for walleye was three per person at a length exceeding 50 cm. An officer inspected five landed fish and found that only one was greater than 50 cm in length. The men had four rod and reel setups in the back of the SUV which they had been spotted using simultaneously on the river. The regulations prohibit the use of multiple lines by an individual.

 The men offered their guilty pleas through duty counsellor Jeremy DeBow, who explained that the men were non-related housemates who lived together with their families in High River and worked at Cargill.

 Prosecutor Bob Morrison suggested fines of $1,000 each for exceeding possession limits and $100 each for fishing with multiple rigs.

 Justice Mark Mastel explained why the penalties were so steep. “It means that the fish stock is usually very low. Part of the protective efforts of fish and wildlife is to try to see the fish stocks grow or maintained. If people are poaching, then that makes it very hard. Certain lakes in Alberta are certainly facing the issues of overfishing and poaching year-over-year, making it very difficult for everyone. (Not only) sport fishers, but also First Nations, who rely on fishing as part of a traditional lifestyle.”

 The judge said the fines were within the correct range, accepted them, and credited the men with their compliance with the officers and their willingness to accept responsibility. He acknowledged that as working men with families, the fines could be challenging and he gave them six months to pay.