More oyster poaching

[Jim_W]

NRP Charge Five with Oyster Violations

Annapolis, Md. (February 3, 2012) – The Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) today charged five watermen with oyster violations in Dorchester County.

At around 9 a.m., NRP observed Bryan R. Grimes, 36 of Chester, Edward E. Grimes, 61 of Stevensville, Mason T. Coursey, 19 of Centerville and Christopher L. Marvel, 19 of Grasonville, illegally diving for oysters in a hand tong only area of the Little Choptank River.

The men were charged with catching oysters for commercial purposes by diving in an area reserved for hand –tonging. Officers seized four bushels of oysters and returned them to water.

At 9:30 a.m., NRP observed Nelson B. Goslin Jr., 42 of Cambridge, with illegally power dredging for oysters in Fishing Bay. He also had undersized oysters (14 percent) on his boat. NRP charged Goslin Jr. with possessing unculled and undersized oysters and power-dredging in an area reserved for hand tongs. Three bushels of oysters were seized and returned to the water.

A trial is set for April 18 in the District Court of Maryland for Dorchester County.

Under Governor Martin O’Malley’s leadership, increased law enforcement is part of an overall effort to deter poaching and toughen penalties for those who violate fishing laws in Maryland, under the Fisheries Management Reform Act of 2007. A noteworthy part of this effort is the launch of fresh enforcement initiatives and enhancements including the installation of a network of radar and camera units to assist the NRP in monitoring sensitive areas that are prone to poaching. DNR, the Office of the Attorney General and the District Court of Maryland have also expanded a successful program that sets aside specific days to try only cases dealing with natural resources violations.

For a glimpse at how the Chesapeake Bay’s oyster population was regulated in the 1870s, visit http://www.dnr.state.md.us/nrp/pdfs/...er1870davi.pdf. This recently discovered report was written by Commander Hunter Davidson addressing status of the oyster to the legislature.


http://www.wboc.com/story/16675920/5...ter-violations

[reeltor]

Very sad indeed.

[Cabyn Fever]

The "few bad apples" are starting to overflow the basket!

[bebopper]

It's truly becoming unbelievable that these guys continue To poach. They obviously believe that they will not be punished to severely. One has to wonder when this bs will cease.

[Marcus]

It's truly becoming unbelievable that these guys continue To poach. They obviously believe that they will not be punished to severely. One has to wonder when this bs will cease.

add to it that if the numbers are right stating that the population is 1/3 of 1% it makes it that much worse.....

[27 sailfish]

Try running the names through the Md judicial search - no surprise - think we all know what you'll find.

Plenty of priors with little or no fines.

One guy ( Marvel ) did get a $1,500.00 fine last Feb. - for taking oysters from sanctuary. You would think that type fine would deter these criminals - ( I'm done using the word " poacher " ) .

[SilverFox]

And you think that it's only oyster poaching going on? Think there are more illegal gil nets out there too? Does DNR have a policy on what they report and do not report? Could DNR be not reporting nets because people are up in arms about it?

It appears more then just a "few" bad apples.

[27 sailfish]

Really have to wonder how often the criminals are caught compared to how many times they get away with stealing fish , crabs or oysters ?

Even the $1,500.00 fine given to Mr. Mason could be paid off with roughly 45 to 50 bushels of illegal oysters. On the right spot - getting 10-15 bushels is not unheard of - so it works out to 3-4 trips.

Wish I had the computer skills / time to put a list together of convicted bay criminals ( poachers ) and compare it to licensed watermen - just to see how many bad apples there really are out there.

[Jim_W]

I have come to the conclusion that the only way to stop poaching would be to totally boycott Md. seafood. If there is no market it will stop.

[troutman6]

This will never stop or be stopped. There is no regard for the law here. Don,t tell me the criminals buddies and co-workers don,t know who they are. When their gone their gone.