NEWS FROM THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
April 30, 2008
Vol. 38, No. 194
For more information, contact Sgt. Gregory Rhodes, Fish and Wildlife Enforcement, 302-542-6102 or 302-739-9913, or Joanna Wilson, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.
Dover Man Fined for Stealing Crabs from Pots
A Dover man was fined last week after pleading guilty to stealing crabs from pots set out by a Sussex County resident.
The evening of April 23, Fish and Wildlife Enforcement officers received a complaint from the resident about crabs being stolen from his crab pots located near Possum Point on Indian River.
With a description of the vessel involved, officers responded to the area, but the vessel was gone. Later, at about 11:46 p.m., Fish and Wildlife officers received a report of an overdue vessel, and contacted the U.S. Coast Guard. The Coast Guard found a vessel that had run aground on a mud flat and boarded the vessel, which matched the description of the vessel involved in the earlier crab pot incident.
After searching local public boat ramps, Fish and Wildlife officers located a vehicle registered to the vessel owner at the Lewes Public Boat Ramp. When the owner returned, he admitted to the officers interviewing him that he had taken crabs from the crab pots.
David R. Whitehair, age 38, of 3028 Forrest Avenue, Dover, was arrested and charged with three counts of crab pot tampering. Whitehair was taken to Justice of the Peace Court No. 3 in Georgetown, where he pled guilty and was fined $226.50 and released.
“Crab pot tampering is one of our most common complaints during the boating season,” said Sgt. Gregory Rhodes of Fish and Wildlife Enforcement. “People need to remember that only the crab pot owner is allowed to tend the pots.”
Anyone who witnesses crab pot theft or tampering is encouraged to call 302-739-4580 to make a report.
For further information, contact Sgt. Gregory Rhodes, Fish and Wildlife Enforcement, at 302-542-6102 or 302-739-9913.
