Yacht Club Penalized $2,500 for Harming Birds When Trying to Scare Them Away

A yacht club installed a network of monofilaments over the marina’s breakwater to scare away birds and prevent them from landing on it and to protect crafts in anchorage. But this installation wounded and even killed birds, including Ring-Billed Gulls. The club pleaded guilty to violating the Migratory Birds Regulations by killing or injuring a dozen Ring-Billed Gulls by trying to scare them. The court ordered the club to pay $2,500 to the Environmental Damages Fund. This case is the first conviction in Canada for this type of offence under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 [Club nautique de Baie-Comeau Inc., Govt. News Release, July 22, 2016].