St. Inigoes, MD – A local waterman was charged with illegal oyster harvesting in St. Mary’s County, Maryland Natural Resources Police reported.
Andrew Philip Nelson, 20 of Hollywood, was charged Monday, March 21 with taking oysters from a portion of the St. Inigoes Creek that has been placed off-limits by the Maryland Department of the Environment because of pollution.
Officers on saturation patrol in St. Mary’s County saw Nelson hand tonging for oysters in the headwaters of the creek. They caught up with him after he finished and inspected his catch. Nelson was told he could not sell the oysters and officers seized 11 bushels and returned them to the same area where they were harvested.
Nelson is set to appear in St. Mary’s District Court May 5. If found guilty, he could be fined as much as $1,000.