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More than 30 people are facing a total of 80 charges after a years-long undercover investigation into an alleged commercial fishing operation in central Alberta.

On Tuesday, Alberta Fish and Wildlife announced the results of a two-year investigation into a ring of alleged poachers who were netting the fish “under the guise of Métis and treaty domestic fishing rights.”

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They believe the fishermen caught and sold 12,000 pounds of fish — the average weight of an African elephant — over a period of several years. Most of the fish were whitefish and walleye taken from Lesser Slave Lake and Winagami Lake and sold to individual buyers.

“Any unregulated trade in fish and wildlife helps fuel black market demand, which could lead to increased poaching and pressure on fish and wildlife populations,” Alberta Fish and Wildlife said in a statement.

Edmonton

Unlike coastal provinces, Alberta has no commercial fishery. Treaty and Métis harvesting rights allow for subsistence fishing but preclude commercial exploitation.