Over the past two weeks, the Maryland Natural Resources Police have investigated several reports of oyster poaching, which resulted in the following charges.
On Dec. 2, at 9 a.m, in Dorchester County, the NRP charged Joseph A. Coleman Jr., 72 of Chester, Maryland, with harvesting oysters within an oyster sanctuary. Coleman was observed by NRP officers harvesting oysters on the Sandy Hill Oyster Sanctuary on the Choptank River.
On Nov. 24, in Somerset County, the NRP charged Russell James Swift, 38 of Crisfield, Md. with harvesting oysters within an oyster sanctuary. Swift was observed by NRP Officers harvesting oysters within the Oyster Sanctuary located in Tangier Sound near the Big Annemessex River.
Oyster Sanctuaries are protected areas for the propagation of oysters and do not allow the harvesting of oysters within the marked boundaries.
Yesterday, Governor Martin O’Malley released the details of Maryland’s Proposed Oyster Restoration and Aquaculture Development Plan, a new multi-faceted effort to rebuild Maryland’s decimated native oyster population. The plan will build on efforts expand oyster sanctuaries increase aquaculture leasing opportunities, while maintaining a more targeted, scientifically managed public fishery. View full news release.
As part of the plan, DNR is undertaking a number of enforcement reforms, among them working with federal partners to install a network of radars and cameras that will help the NRP monitor oyster sanctuaries and prevent poaching.
“Our native oyster is part of the public trust,” said Governor Martin O’Malley, “and we have a clear and urgent responsibility to restore and protect this iconic species for future generations,” said Governor O’Malley.