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Officers conducting surveillance of the Nanticoke River Oyster Sanctuary in Wicomico County last Friday shortly after 4 a.m. saw two men dredging within its boundaries. The officers intercepted the unlighted vessel after it finished dredging and began heading upstream.
Aboard, they found 32 bushels of oysters, four of which contained undersized oysters.
Vaughn Edward Collins Jr., 44, of Nanticoke, and Kristopher Daniel Graves, 20, of Salisbury, were each charged with illegal oyster harvesting more than 150 feet inside a sanctuary; harvesting oysters before legal hours; possessing oysters onboard a vessel between two hours after sunset and before sunrise; being over the daily harvest limit; failing to tag oysters; and two charges each of possessing unculled oysters at 40 percent below legal size. Collins also was cited for operating a vessel without running lights.
The 32 bushels of oysters were returned to the sanctuary and the dredge was seized.
Both men are schedule to appear in Wicomico District Court on March 3. If found guilty of all charges, each man could be fined a maximum of $6,000.
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6 comments:
Pass a law to confiscate their boat when caught.
Dam we were planning an Oyster Roast
I know Graves , he got kicked out of the U.S.Marines , a total loser , a poacher
of deer , and a thief. His mamma taught him well!!
Same offenders need their licenses taken
When I left Florida 25 years ago, fines for short lobster were $500 each plus the boat or other equipment used in the taking, and if the ensuing house/ freezer search resulted in more shorts; well, you guessed it!
When I got to Virginia and saw a guy getting fines $5 each for undersized crabs, I laughed!
These people just don't learn when their buddies get nabbed and fined. Are they that dumb? Maybe it is time to step up the penalties - can't poach without a boat.
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