Citation Issued For Purposely Damaging Crab Pots

QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY, MD - On August 27, officers from the Maryland Natural Resources Police were dispatched to the Magothy River following a reported dispute between a commercial crabber and recreational crabbers.

According to the reporting party, they were using collapsible traps near Gibson Island when a commercial waterman running a trotline in the same area intentionally pulled up two of their traps. They stated the waterman then cut the line connecting the traps to their buoys.

Officers spoke with the commercial crabber, a 23-year-old man from Queenstown, Maryland, and found two buoys with cut trap lines on his vessel.

The man was subsequently issued one citation for destroying gear belonging to another person. A conviction for this offense carries a potential maximum fine of $1,000.

Disclosure: All individuals mentioned in this article are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Eastern Shore Undercover® does not express or imply any opinion regarding the incident reported.