Maryland Waterman Cited for Illegal Clamming in Protected Area

TALBOT COUNTY, MD - Maryland Natural Resources Police have cited a commercial waterman for operating hydraulic clam dredges in a protected environmental zone near the Choptank River.

Officers conducted surveillance operations on August 28 and observed a commercial clamming vessel using hydraulic dredging equipment within the Black Walnut Cove Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Protection Area in Talbot County. The use of hydraulic clam dredges is prohibited in this designated protection zone.

Police continued monitoring the area on August 29 and documented additional violations by the same vessel operator at the identical location.

Officers later contacted the vessel's occupants at a marina in Tilghman. The operator, a 31-year-old man from Chestertown, was informed of the violations and subsequently issued citations for two separate offenses.

The charges include use of hydraulic clam dredges in SAV protection zones and use of hydraulic clam dredges in SAV areas.

Each citation carries a maximum penalty of $1,000. The Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Protection Areas are established to preserve critical underwater plant habitats that support marine ecosystems.

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.