The Department of Natural Resources and other agencies announced that they were closing the season early as the rockfish population is nearing its commercial fishing quota for the month. They also cited concerns that more illegal nets could still be found.
As per the authorities and fishermen said poachers take opportunities away from other fishermen. Larry Simns, president of the Maryland Watermen’s Association, said that the poaching has taken some of the quota away from the honest fishermen. Multiple agencies have pooled money to offer more than $7,000 as a reward for information leading to the arrest of any poachers involved.
Fisheries authorities might allow the gill net season to re-open later this month if no further illegal nets are found. The recovered fish were hauled ashore by natural resources police and were sold to area fisheries. Gill nets are legal but it has been illegal to anchor the nets down with weights since 1985.
