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Maryland Natural Resources Police Charge Two with Multiple Striped Bass Violations
Cambridge, MD – The Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) today charged two Dorchester County men with multiple commercial striped bass fishing violations. The incident, during which over 1,200 pounds of striped bass were seized, occurred on Tuesday, Feb. 10 in the Ragged Point area of Brooks Creek.
“Those who violate our striped bass regulations are exploiting a treasured public resource, as well as the rights of both commercial and recreational anglers who abide by the rules,” said NRP Superintendent Col. George F. Johnson. “Pursuing and prosecuting such offenders is a priority of our agency.”
Christopher M. Weber, 31, of Cambridge was charged with failure to have striped bass tags in possession; failure to have commercial tidal fish license in possession; failure to tag striped bass prior to landing; maintaining more than 600 linear yards of striped bass drift gill net; exceeding the daily/weekly allocation for striped bass; and six counts of illegal possess striped bass.
Dean C. Price, 34, of Woolford was charged with failure to tag striped bass prior to landing; maintaining more than 600 linear yards of striped bass drift gill net; exceeding the daily/weekly allocation for striped bass; and six counts of illegal possess striped bass.
NRP officers patrolling the area checked a vessel occupied by Weber and Dean at approximately 8:15 p.m. During the course of the check NRP located 128 striped bass that were tagged with tags belonging to other individuals not on the vessel. Officers also located 60 striped bass onboard that were not tagged. NRP seized as evidence 1,218 pounds of striped bass.
A court date of April 22 has been scheduled for Weber and Dean in Dorchester County District Court.
February 13, 2009 Contact: Sgt. Ken Turner
410-260-8003 office
kturner@dnr.state.md.usThe Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) is the enforcement arm of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). With an authorized strength of 280 officers and a dedicated staff of civilian and volunteer personnel, the NRP provide a variety of services in addition to conservation and boating law enforcement duties throughout the State of Maryland. These services include homeland security, search and rescue, emergency medical services, education, information and communications services on a round the clock basis. NRP is the only police force aside from the Maryland State Police that has statewide jurisdiction.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages nearly one-half million acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 12 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov