YARMOUTH – From Yarmouth DNR: Over the weekend, the lone Natural Resouces Law Enforcment officer was kept busy with multiple calls for service and several local and state environmental violations.
One such call involved the report of an individual illegally shell fishing off Smugglers (Bass River) beach.
The officer was notified and directed by the reporting party to a group of individuals on the beach. The officer questioned the group and asked if any of them had been shellfishing. All profusely denied any such activity. Only after the officer asked to inspect their coolers did an individual come forward. That individual admitted to taking multiple shellfish.
The officer seized the illegally taken shellfish and issued citations for taking shellfish in a closed area and failure to have shellfishing license.
Shellfish areas are deemed closed for reasons such as state closures, local closures, resource protection, and contamination. All are to help protect the resource and the public consuming the product.
If you see suspicious activity in your natural resource areas, call the division. These resources will only last as long as people are committed to its proper regulation and conservation.
