April 24, 2015 — The following was released by the Maine Department of Marine Resources:
Benjamin Weed, 29 of Stonington, faces numerous charges stemming from an investigation in April by the Maine Marine Patrol into illegal lobster harvesting activity.
Weed has been charged with fishing with untagged lobster traps, fishing more than forty nine percent of his allotted traps in a limited entry zone, fishing 287 traps without necessary tags declaring both zones he was licensed to fish in, and three violations of regulations designed to protect whales.
Weed faces potential fines totaling $17,250 and the prospect of a one-year suspension of his license and the ability to obtain any license. He currently holds a lobster license and also held a commercial fishing license and shrimp license last year. “The potential fine he is facing is substantial,” said Maine Department of Marine Resources Commissioner Patrick Keliher. “But the possibility of a one-year loss of income could have a far greater consequence.
“This investigation by the Maine Marine Patrol required a great deal of effort and expertise by the Officers and Specialists involved and I applaud them for working tirelessly to enforce Maine’s marine resource laws,” said Commissioner Keliher.
Weed is authorized to fish a total of 800 traps but by law must fish the majority of them in lobster zone C, which stretches from Cape Rosier to Newberry Neck. According to marine resource law, harvesters must declare a zone in which they intend to fish the majority of their traps. They are allowed to fish in other zones but the majority of their allotted traps must be in their declared zone.
However the Marine Patrol investigation revealed that he was fishing all of his traps in zone B. “Lobster zones were established in 1995 to allow local input into the governance and management of Maine’s lobster fishery,” said Marine Patrol Colonel Jon Cornish. “They also support resource conservation by preventing large scale shifts of effort and keeping fishermen primarily fishing within their home Zone.”
Weed was also found to be fishing 29 traps without tags and another 287 without proper tags identifying the zones in which he was licensed to fish. “Trap tags are another important measure that allows the Marine Patrol to ensure that harvesters are fishing no more than their allotted number of traps,” said Keliher.
In addition the investigation revealed that Weed failed to comply with regulations designed to protect whales. He was found to be using flotation devices on ground lines and floating ground lines between traps, and he failed to connect buoys with a weak link that would break under 600 pounds of force.
A letter notifying Weed of his suspension was sent April 23. Unless he requests a hearing within 10 days of receipt of the letter, Weed’s one-year suspension, the maximum possible by law, will be effective as of May 3, 2015. Weed can also request a length of suspension hearing with the Commissioner or appeal the suspension to the Superior Court.