A Wheatley man has been fined $4,500 for multiple commercial fishing violations on Lake Erie.
The Ontario Court of Justice heard that Robert Johnston failed to retrieve gill nets within the required time frame, did not report lost nets, allowed fish suitable for consumption to spoil, and failed to maintain accurate catch records.
Conservation officers began investigating after receiving a complaint about an abandoned gill net near Wheatley in March 2025.
Commercial fishing on Lake Erie is regulated through licenses issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources to help ensure sustainability of the fishery.
