Penalties for Offences Involving Moose or Caribou
The minimum penalties upon conviction for an offence relating to moose or caribou are:
- for a first offence, a fine of $1,000 or imprisonment for not less than one month and the court shall make an order prohibiting the person from holding a moose or caribou licence for a period of five years;
- for a second offence within five years, a fine of $3,000 and imprisonment for not less than one month and the court may, depending upon the circumstances, permanently prohibit the person from holding a moose or caribou licence;
- wildlife, firearms, and in some cases, vehicles, may be forfeited.
Please read the Regulation Summaries for Big Game in Hunting and Trapping Guide carefully. If you are not sure that your planned hunting methods are legal, contact a Department of Fisheries and Land Resources office. A mistake could cost you $1,000 and five years’ hunting privileges.
Penalties for Offences Involving Inland Fish
A person who contravenes a provision of or a requirement or obligation imposed upon him or her under the Wild Life Act; contravenes an order made under the Wild Life Act; or fails to observe or fulfil a condition attached to a licence or permit issued to him or her under the Wild Life Act that relates to fish is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not more than $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than six months or to both the fine and imprisonment.
Penalties for Offences Involving Threatened and Endangered Species
Under the Endangered Species Act, a person who disturbs, harasses, injures, or kills an individual of a species designated as threatened, endangered, or extirpated; or a person who captures, possesses, buys, sells or trades a specimen of a species designated as threatened, endangered or extirpated or part of it and anything derived from it; or a person who disturbs the residence of an individual of a species designated as threatened, endangered or extirpated is liable:
- for the first conviction, to a fine not less than $1,000 and not more than $50,000, or to imprisonment for a term of not more than three months, or to both;
- for a second conviction, to a fine of not less than $2,000 and not more than $100,000, or to imprisonment for a term of not more than six months, or to both;
- for a third and subsequent conviction, to a fine of not less than $4,000 and not more than $200,000, or to imprisonment for a term of not more than 12 months, or to both.
Where a corporation is convicted of an offence, the corporation is liable:
- for the first conviction, to a fine not less than $2,000 and not more than $100,000;
- for a second conviction, to a fine not less than $4,000 and not more than $200,000; and
- for a third and subsequent conviction, to a fine of not less than $8,000 and not more than $400,000.
Hunting in National Parks and National Historic Sites
It is illegal to hunt, traffic in, or possess wildlife taken in Gros Morne National Park, Terra Nova National Park and Torngat Mountains National Park or in the National Historic Sites of L’Anse aux Meadows, Port au Choix, Cape Spear, Castle Hill, and Signal Hill in Newfoundland and Labrador, except as permitted by specific regulation or Land Claims Agreements. Beneficiaries of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement and the Nunavik Inuit Land Claims Agreement have the right to harvest in the Torngat Mountains National Park subject to the terms of these Agreements.
Persons convicted of hunting may face severe fines, prison sentences, a criminal record and/or other sanctions. For information on National Park and National Historic Sites regulations please contact Parks Canada.
To report emergencies and National Park violations on Parks Canada’s lands in Newfoundland and Labrador call 1-877-852-3100.
Penalties for Offences Involving Migratory Game Birds
Penalties for offences under the Migratory Birds Convention Act state that every person or vessel that contravenes any regulation is liable:
- on conviction on indictment, to a fine of not more than $1,000,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than three years, or to both; and
- on summary conviction, to a fine of not more than $300,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than six months, or to both.
Please contact the Canadian Wildlife Service for more information or to report illegal activity related to endangered species or migratory birds.