Two men from Southern Ontario have been fined a total of more than $4,000 after pleading guilty to offences related to illegally fishing walleye on a river that is closed to the activity year-round for conservation purposes.
Chunyang Liu of Scarborough and Mifeng Li of East Gwillimbury were each ordered to pay fines and forfeit their catch and equipment following separate hearings before the Ontario Court of Justice in Thunder Bay.
Officers encounter anglers during river inspection
According to the Ministry of Natural Resources, the court heard that on Sept. 18, 2025, conservation officers were conducting a fisheries inspection on the Black Sturgeon River in the Nipigon area when they encountered Liu and Li fishing from the riverbank.
“While officers were inspecting Liu, Li fled the area,” the MNR wrote in a recent court bulletin.
Conservation officers said they found walleye, often called pickerel, in Liu’s possession during the inspection and, with assistance from the Ontario Provincial Police, officers later located Li and found him in possession of walleye taken from the river.
Liu pleads guilty to closed-season offence
Liu pleaded guilty to catching and retaining walleye from the Black Sturgeon River during the closed season.
He was fined $1,050 and ordered to permanently forfeit the walleye and his fishing equipment.
Justice of the Peace Julie Goulet heard the case on May 20, 2026.
Li receives lifetime ban after fleeing officers
Li pleaded guilty to catching and retaining walleye during the closed season, fishing without a licence and obstruction of an officer carrying out their duties.
He was fined $2,990 and ordered to permanently forfeit the walleye and his fishing equipment. In addition, he received a two-year probation order prohibiting the possession or use of fishing equipment and a lifetime fishing ban in Ontario.
Justice of the Peace Desmond Berry heard the case on July 13, 2026.
River closed year-round to support walleye rehabilitation
Conservation Officer Ron Arnold, speaking in a social media video, added that the ministry helps protect walleye populations in the Black Sturgeon River by enforcing fisheries regulations and addressing the illegal harvest of walleye during the closed season.
“The river is closed to walleye fishing year-round for conservation purposes and to support the rehabilitation of Lake Superior’s Black Bay walleye population,” he said.
To report a natural resource problem or provide information about an unsolved case, call the ministry TIPS line toll-free at 1-877-847-7667 or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously.
For more information about unsolved cases, click here.
