A local man picked up the phone and called the OPP after a number of residents sighted what they believe was a big red boat gill netting near the north end of Lake Nipissing early Tuesday morning.
Police said a boat would be sent out to investigate.
The witness says he spotted the boat around 7:30 a.m. near Amelia soccer field. He estimates the boat was sitting close to the shoreline near East Side Mario’s.
The witness, who asked to remain anonymous, says seeing that kind of activity on Lake Nipissing is frustrating.
“You go out and catch a couple fish and then drive by the waterfront and see boats netting and we have to throw fish back,” he said.
Witnesses say another similar boat was sighted throwing nets out near the Government Dock on Monday morning.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry indicated they received a call about a boat pulling a gill net Tuesday morning, but did not confirm if they found any suspicious gill netting.
"The MNRF continues to patrol the lake and investigate complaints to ensure netting is being done by those allowed to net," said MNRF Staff Sgt. Area Enforcement Manager Tim Caddel in an email.
He says they have received some tips relating to gill netting but so far this spring they have not found any abandoned nets of ghost nets on Lake Nipissing.
Commercial gill netting is prohibited on Lake Nipissing. However, First Nation’s are permitted to do so.
Last October, Nipissing First Nation banned gill netting on the lake for the fall season due to the amount of abandoned nets found on the lake.