01-16-2011, 12:13 PM
Deal Island, Maryland - On December 3, 2010 at 9:30 a.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) charged Patrick Barlet Murphy, 48, and Glenn Marshall Foster, 27, both from Tilghman, with catching oysters on a sanctuary and possession of unculled and undersize oysters.
An NRP officer aboard the patrol boat Worcester spotted the commercial fishing vessel, the Azelyn Leslie, dredging for oysters in the marked Tangier Sound Oyster Sanctuary at 8:30 a.m. The sanctuary is located about six miles north of Crisfield in Tangier Sound. Strong winds of 20 knots and three to four-foot seas prevented the NRP officers from boarding the vessel of the suspected poachers on the oyster bar; the Azelyn Leslie was escorted to Deal Island for safe boarding and inspection.
Upon inspection, officers found 15.5 bushels of oysters on the vessel; 10 percent were found to be unculled and undersize. The oysters were seized and returned to the oyster sanctuary.
A court date of February 17, 2011 at 1:30 p.m. has been set for the District Court of Maryland in Somerset County.
Media Contact
Sgt. A.A. Windemuth<br />
410-260-8850 office | 410-713-8449 cell<br />
awindemuth@dnr.state.md.us
An NRP officer aboard the patrol boat Worcester spotted the commercial fishing vessel, the Azelyn Leslie, dredging for oysters in the marked Tangier Sound Oyster Sanctuary at 8:30 a.m. The sanctuary is located about six miles north of Crisfield in Tangier Sound. Strong winds of 20 knots and three to four-foot seas prevented the NRP officers from boarding the vessel of the suspected poachers on the oyster bar; the Azelyn Leslie was escorted to Deal Island for safe boarding and inspection.
Upon inspection, officers found 15.5 bushels of oysters on the vessel; 10 percent were found to be unculled and undersize. The oysters were seized and returned to the oyster sanctuary.
A court date of February 17, 2011 at 1:30 p.m. has been set for the District Court of Maryland in Somerset County.
Media Contact
Sgt. A.A. Windemuth<br />
410-260-8850 office | 410-713-8449 cell<br />
awindemuth@dnr.state.md.us