Six Queen Anne's County Fishermen Charged With Oyster Poaching

Posted: Feb 24, 2011 10:35 AM EST

ANNAPOLIS, Md.– Maryland Natural Resources Police have charged six men with removing oysters from an oyster sanctuary in the Corsica River.

Benjamin Shafer Byers, 20, of Bozeman; Brandon Howard Mende, 22, of Centreville; Brian Todd Hambleton, 24, of Bozeman; Jeffrey Lee Anthony, 29, of Grasonville; Michael Karlis Murphy, 26, of Queenstown; and Christopher Lee Marvel, 18, of Grasonville were all charged with removing oysters from an oyster sanctuary. Additionally, Marvel and Mende were charged with oystering commercially without a valid license.

Police say that on Feb. 21 at 11:15 a.m., officers observed two boats hand tonging for oysters in the Possum Point Oyster Sanctuary in the Corsica River. As NRP attempted to follow the individuals to harbor, the violators dumped the oysters into the river in an effort to avoid being caught. They were apprehended a short time later at the Centreville Warf.

Currently, the maximum penalty for removing oysters from an oyster sanctuary is a $3,000 fine and suspension of tidal fish license for 6-12 months. Under a new bill introduced by Sen. Brian Frosh to the State Legislature, the tidal fishing license could be permanently revoked by DNR after a hearing.

"This blatant disregard for natural resources law demonstrates exactly why we need the bill," Frosh said.

According to police, the six men are scheduled for trial April 6 at 1:15 p.m. in the District Court of Maryland for Queen Anne's County.