A Maine lobsterman was recently caught fishing with dozens of more lobster traps than he was allowed to have.
The Maine Department of Marine Resources told WCSH-TV that during a routine patrol last month, a Marine Patrol Officer inspected 52-year-old Brian Tarbox's traps and found that they belonged to another license holder. A further investigation of Tarbox's traps found that he was fishing with 156 in excess of his allotted 800.
According to WCSH-TV, Tarbox was charged with fishing with lobster traps that contained tags not registered to his vessel and the the possibility of the suspension of his lobster license.
Tarbox’s son, Samuel, 23, of Spruce Head, was also charged with fishing with lobster traps that contained tags not registered to his vessel. He also faces the possibility of a license suspension.
“This is a very serious violation of marine resource laws and I’m extremely proud of the diligent work of the Marine Patrol personnel involved in this case,” said Marine Patrol Colonel Jon Cornish. “When someone fishes in excess of trap limits, it not only undermines important conservation laws designed to sustain this valuable resource, it gives violators an unfair advantage over law abiding harvesters.”
