Contact: Sgt. Greg Rhodes, Fish & Wildlife Enforcement, 302-739- 9913 or 302-542-6102, or Michael Globetti, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.
Fish & Wildlife Enforcement charges Maryland man with
numerous commercial fishing violations after lengthy investigation
DOVER (May 20, 2011) – Delaware Division of Fish & Wildlife enforcement agents culminated a commercial fishing investigation that began late last year with the arrest and charging this month of a Maryland man on numerous violations carrying potential fines of more than $6,000.
William H. Beck, 45, of Rock Hall, Md., was charged with violating commercial regulations and with conspiracy after a Fish & Wildlife agent recognized him while checking turtle trappers for compliance with Delaware regulations. Mr. Beck was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court on 68 charges of fisheries violations and one charge of conspiracy.
The fisheries offenses were:
· 17 counts of failing to tend fixed nets;
· 17 counts of using improperly marked fish pots;
· 17 counts of using food fishing equipment without a permit, and
· 17 counts of using illegally constructed fish pots (without an escape panel).
Each count with a conviction potentially carries a minimum fine of $91.
Among other recent Fish & Wildlife Enforcement actions:
After an investigation, a Newark company, Fish King, Inc., was found to be in possession of a prohibited species with warrants filed against it by the Delaware Attorney General’s office.
Fish King, Inc. was charged with 162 counts of illegally possessing sponge crab after an anonymous tip led Fish & Wildlife enforcement agents to the location. Last month, a manager of Fish King, Inc., Jung T. Sun, 53, of Wilmington, was charged with 22 counts of illegal possession of sponge crabs.
The company could face almost $15,000 in fines for the alleged violations.
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A Seaford man was arrested May 17 and charged with illegal commercial taking of striped bass after a lengthy investigation. Anthony Gundy, 45, was found to have caught and sold striped bass prior to the opening of the commercial hook and line season. After his arrest, Mr. Gundy admitted to catching and selling the fish before the season began, and was charged with six counts of possession of striped bass during a closed season. Each count carries a potential minimum fine of $100. Mr. Gundy was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court #3, where he pled not guilty and the case was transferred to Sussex County Court of Common Pleas.
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Bryan K. McCall, 43, of Lewes, was arrested and charged May 15 with netting in a prohibited area of Rehoboth Bay. Fish & Wildlife Enforcement had earlier that day located and seized an illegally-placed gillnet during their patrol. They identified Mr. McCall as the man who owned the net when he called that evening to report his net as “stolen.” Mr. McCall was fined $91.50.
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A Wilmington man, Michael A. Lang, 45, was charged May 14 with DUI, operating an uninsured motor vehicle and driving at excessive speeds on the C&D Canal Wildlife Area near Glasgow, after he sped past an enforcement who was observing fishermen along the canal.
The agent caught up to Mr. Lang when he stopped his car at a dead end to a road along the C&D Canal. After failing field sobriety tests he was transported to Delaware State Police Troop #9 for Intoxilyzer testing, which confirmed he was over the legal limit of blood alcohol. Mr. Lang was issued summonses to appear in court at a later date.
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A Kansas man, en route nautically from Connecticut to Texas, was charged with negligent operation of a vessel May 14 after the mast of his 27-foot sailboat struck the Indian River Bridge. Philip J. Young, 39, told Fish & Wildlife Enforcement agents he had mistaken the Indian River Inlet for Ocean City, Md. Mr. Young had no navigational charts on board when the incident occurred. The sailboat’s mast sustained approximately $2,000 worth of damage, according to the boat accident report. The Indian River Bridge was undamaged by the collision.
Vol. 41, No. 198
