Rockfish bust could have wide fallout

By PAMELA WOOD, Staff Writer

Published 02/08/09

More than half a dozen watermen have been snared in what is shaping up to be the largest fish-poaching case ever seen in the Chesapeake Bay region.

And even as police and investigators are being applauded for busting the illegal rockfish ring, others are gauging how bad the fallout will be for watermen and state fisheries regulators.

Watermen who stay on the straight and narrow are worried they could lose clout because of their shady colleagues, while state fisheries regulators could lose status in the intricate politics of interstate fish management. And fishing groups are using the case to show that police who work on the...

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Good reporting! - 2009-02-09 11:47:08

I don't think people doing the right thing should be punished for this. I do think the Moore's and Cannon Seafood should be punished to the full extent of the law. Nelson's should also be punished severely as it is apparent father taught son and son continues with no regard to law or fish. Also, is everyone aware of diseases rockfish can get? That's where reporting catch helps protect consumers. Send these crooks to jail and take their money!

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S. Abbott - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Terrible

DUDE! - 2009-02-09 10:33:11

They're fish, and there are tons of them out there. Get a grip.

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Ted G. - Edgewater, MD - Karma: Bad

BWhite - 2009-02-08 16:00:52

Yeah, I could see how a reasonable person could rationalize that poaching is the same as child molestation. Wow, here's your sign.

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Johnathan Locke - Edgewater, MD - Karma: Good

Endangered Species? - 2009-02-08 10:33:03

B White, I believe the Striped Bass population is not endangered but actually in quite good condition. Additionally this whole ordeal was a SETUP/Entrapment scheme by the Feds. We shall see the truth in court. The taking of fish unlawfully is in no way comparable to child molestation. Getting all emotional isn't how we should deal with issues. We need to look at facts and THINK not just FEEL.

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Emma G. - West River, MD - Karma: Neutral

Take Their Boats. - 2009-02-08 09:01:29

Report the rest of the names so we all know who they are. Same as child molesters to me. Just shows they don't care about anything but themselves. I say, make them replenish the fish somehow. Should take their assets and use it to replenish the fish. Can be done in many ways. Report the name of the boats so we all know who they are. Better yet, take their boats. They deserve it. This is killing an endangered species. Sincerely,

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B White - Edgewater, MD - Karma: Bad