The east end has been experiencing poaching in various harbors, including Georgica Pond, over the summer months and continuing into the Fall. The Trustees invited Commanding Officer Tim Treadwell of the East Hampton Marine Patrol, to address the issue at our last meeting on September 26th.
The discussion among the members of the Trustees and Officer Treadwell centered around various ways to curtail the poaching through penalties that include higher monetary fines, the revocation of the violator’s fishing license, and other deterrents and penalties that would mimic commercial fishermen regulations.
Most poaching has been committed by groups of people who arrive late at night and are not residents of East Hampton – they have come from Staten Island, Nassau County, and other communities. The poachers are well organized and work swiftly to harvest bucketfuls of whatever marine species is at hand – most typically, crabs, and do not possess the proper permit required by the Town. They rapidly disperse when warned by a “look-out” and while the police and marine patrol have apprehended and ticketed violators caught, the fine of $150.00 may not be at a sufficient level to deter them from returning, especially if they are selling the confiscated crabs.
Attorney for the Trustees, Chris Carillo, offered to collaborate with Officer Treadwell to develop a legal strategy to curtail the illegal poaching that would include the Town of East Hampton. The Trustees are fully supportive and look forward to establishing regulations and penalties that will subsequently lead to the protection of our marine species from poachers.
The quantity of blue claw crabs and other shellfish by poachers has become a serious threat to the ecosystem of our local waters, our community members who legally enjoy “crabbing” and local commercial baymen.
To read more, click on the link below for the full article by Michael Wright.