Maine Lobsterman Faces Suspension for Illegal Use of Traps

A Maine lobsterman faces possible fines and a license suspension after state authorities charged him with lobster harvesting violations.

The Maine Marine Patrol is charging Benjamin Weed, of Stonington, Maine, with fishing with untagged lobster traps, fishing more than 49 percent of his allotted traps in a limited entry zone and fishing 287 traps without tags declaring the zones he was licensed to fish.

He also faces three violations of regulations designed to protect whales.

State authorities say Weed faces fines of up to $17,250. He is authorized to fish 800 traps which, by law, must mostly be located in a lobster zone stretching from Cape Rosier to Newberry Neck.

A reporter's call to a phone number listed as belonging to Weed was not returned.