Tag Archives: Mass Environmental Police

Mass. Environmental Police Seize 384 Pounds of Black Sea Bass in Harwich

On Saturday, August 24, 2019, an Officer on patrol in the vicinity of Wychmere Harbor in Harwich observed an individual loading fish pots into the rear of a pickup truck. Further inspection found the individual, who was commercially permitted, to be in possession of 384 pounds of black sea bass on a closed commercial fishing day. The entire catch was seized and the individual was criminally summonsed for failure to display catch, landing black sea bass on a closed commercial day, and over the limit possession of black sea bass. >click to read<  13:57

Four Arrested in Bourne on Fisheries Violations – Vessel, Trailer, Vehicle Impounded and Gear Seized

On Sunday at approximately 2:19 PM, an Environmental Police Officer was conducting recreational marine fisheries inspections on vessels returning to Taylor Point Marina in Bourne. Upon approaching a vessel that had just hauled out, the Officer observed one of the four males on the vessel run up a hill towards the rail road tracks with a white bucket. The male then dumped a quantity of fish behind some bushes. The Officer approached the male with the bucket and observed six small Black Sea Bass on the ground. The Officer placed the male party in handcuffs and recovered the fish. He escorted the male party back to the vessel and the three other occupants. The Officer asked all four individuals if there were any more Black Sea Bass in the vessel. They all responded no. click here to read the story 11:46

Will the Fish Rot in the Hold? – Our View: One more fault with fishing rules

AR-160119723.jpg&MaxW=650&MaxH=650Fishing vessels tied up in New Bedford but not allowed to unload part of their catch this week suggest one more weakness in our fishing regulations that is ripe for remedy. State environmental regulations allow a boat carrying fish to an out-of-state port to land fish in Massachusetts when injured crew or severe mechanical issues force the decision. Foul weather, apparently, is not part of the equation. Unfortunately for seven vessels — three home-ported here and four from North Carolina — Read the op-ed here 08:44

Captains face charges after alleged illegal harvest

Two fishing boat captains are facing criminal charges after state environmental police say they caught the men harvesting surf clams in an area off Herring Cove Beach where fishing for the bivalves is prohibited. Matthews Collins, 29, of New Bedford, is scheduled to be arraigned today in Orleans District Court for allegedly harvesting surf clams onboard the F/V Aimee Marie on March 24,, The captain of the F/V Miss Maegan, Keith Opozda, 31, will also be summonsed to court to face a charge of harvesting surf clams shoreward of the 12-foot depth contour line at the same time as Collins, Read the rest here 15:55