ANNAPOLIS (Nov. 16, 2008) - The Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) on Saturday released the following incident and arrest reports. NRP is the enforcement arm of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). NRP is the only police force aside from the Maryland State Police that has statewide jurisdiction.
ILLEGAL OYSTER HARVEST: On Thursday, Nov. 6, at 9:15 a.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged three men with harvesting oysters illegally on the Wicomico River near Indiantown.
Robert L. Copsey, 39, John S. Evens, 44, and James P. Nelson, 32, all of Mechanicsville were charged after NRP observed the three power dredging oysters just north of Chaptico Bay in a restricted area reserved for hand tonging. Officers seized as evidence 17 bushels of oysters which were returned to the waters of the State.
A court date of Jan. 16, 2009 has been scheduled for the three individuals in St. Mary’s County District Court.
The commercial oyster season for power dredge runs through March 31 in designated areas of Calvert, Dorchester, Somerset, St. Mary's and Talbot counties, Monday through Friday from sunrise to 3 p.m., with a limit of 12 bushels per licensee and not to exceed 24 bushels per boat. A permit is required for power dredge.