FREDERIC SERRE
The 1019 Report

The strong arm of the law has come down hard on four residents of the region, each pleading guilty to poaching charges in the wake of a four-year investigation that saw fines totalling $314,430 handed out to 75 individuals throughout the Montérégie territory that investigators say belonged to a well-organized network.

The Quebec Environment Ministry late last month released the details of its lengthy investigation. Dubbed Operation 57, more than 100 provincial wildlife investigators four years ago swooped in on various locations in the region on Nov. 27, 2019, making the arrests after acting on tips received from local residents regarding various offences related to poaching. The arrests resulted in the dismantling of a well-organized poaching network.

The investigation focused on various activities, including the sale, purchase, illegal possession and exceeding of limits of fish, wild garlic and game, as well as the illegal fishing of yellow perch, walleye, sturgeon and striped bass. Some individuals were also charged with using live fish bait, a practice that is prohibited in Quebec.

According to the ministry, the majority of individuals charged pleaded guilty. Locally, they include Roger Archambault of St. Zotique, who pleaded guilty to illegal fishing and was fined $2,500, as well as Richmond Monette of Coteau du Lac, also pleading guilty to illegal fishing, and fined $2,000.

Luce Laberge of St. Zotique was fined $1,825 for the illegal purchase of fish, and Robert Latreille of St. Zotique, was fined $1,825 for the same offence.