The following notices were posted on the Facebook page of the Massachusetts Environmental Police and outline several large-scale illegal fishing operations taking place in Massachusetts waters. If you recall, a string of similar incidents were documented last spring as well. If you witness what appears to be illegal fishing practices or retention while on the water, be sure to call your local authorities. The phone numbers are as follows:
Massachusetts: 800-632-8075
Rhode Island: 800-842-4357
Connecticut: 800-842-4357
New York: 844-332-3267
May 18, 2016:
A Massachusetts Environmental Police Lieutenant received a call from the Mattapoisett Harbormaster regarding an individual at their boat ramp in possession of black sea bass. [At the time of the incident] both the recreational and the commercial season for black sea bass [were] closed. Upon arrival at the boat ramp, officers spoke with the individual and inspected his catch. An inspection of the vessel yielded several totes and coolers, as well as an interior deck compartment, containing black sea bass.
It is unlawful to possess black sea bass in a closed season; when the season is open there is a recreational limit of 5 black sea bass per person, with a minimum size of 15-inches. After inspecting the vessel, it was determined that there were a total of 153 black sea bass, of which 75 were under the legal limit.
The vessel operator was advised of the Massachusetts Environmental Police findings and placed under arrest for failing to display fish upon demand, possession of undersized sea bass, possession of over limit sea bass, possession of sea bass in a closed season, and no recreational salt water permit. He was subsequently transported to Mattapoisett Police Department for booking.
May 29, 2016
T:he Massachusetts Environmental Police received a phone call from the Wareham Harbormaster Department to report a potential violation at Tempest Knob Boat Ramp in Wareham. Once the Officer arrived on scene he conducted an inspection of the vessel. Upon boarding the vessel, the Environmental Police Officer noticed eight coolers on the deck and inquired with the operator regarding the contents – the operator stated sea bass and scup. With the assistance of the Wareham Harbormaster, a full inspection of the catch was conducted; upon completion it was determined that the vessel was in possession of 209 Sea Bass over the limit, 122 of which were undersized. The owner is a commercial permit holder but does not possess a recreational saltwater fishing license. There were five other passengers on the vessel, 1 of whom had a recreational saltwater fishing license, there was also a minor onboard. There is a recreational limit of 5 black sea bass per person, with a minimum size of 15 inches. The legal possession limit of black sea bass for this vessel would have been 10 fish, 15 inches or larger. The passengers were issued civil citations for fishing without a saltwater recreational license, possession of over the limit sea bass, and possession of undersized sea bass. The operator was issued a criminal summons and his boat, trailer, and fishing gear were seized by the Commonwealth. The fish were sold and the proceeds will go through a civil process.
June 2, 2016:
Massachusetts Environmental Police Officers on a marine patrol boarded a New York registered vessel that was actively fishing in the vicinity of Scraggy Neck in Bourne. Once onboard, officers conducted an inspection during which an overage of black sea bass was observed. Officers then escorted the vessel back to shore so that a dockside inspection could be conducted.
At the same time, a Massachusetts Environmental Police Lieutenant was responding to a marine fisheries complaint at Barlow’s Landing. Massachusetts Environmental Police dispatch received a complaint indicating that a vessel had come in to offload several coolers into a pickup truck and head back out to sea. The responding Lieutenant discovered that the truck belonged to the owner of the vessel that Officers were currently escorting back to shore.
Initially, the vessel owner led officers to an incorrect marina, which was away from his vehicle. Once at Barlow’s Landing, the Lieutenant interviewed the vessel owner. The vessel owner denied returning to shore and offloading fish into his vehicle. Officers subsequently conducted an inspection of the vehicle and found two coolers containing black sea bass.
A full inspection was conducted, upon which it was found that the vessel owner and passengers were in possession of 143 black sea bass, 84 of which were undersized, and 60 scup, two of which were undersized. The operator was issued criminal summonses and the fishing gear was seized. The fish were sent to a processing center and will later be donated to a local charity.