"These were fish pirates" - Feds break up black market striper ring

This investigation started in 2003.

State and federal investigators have broken up a black market involving watermen and fish dealers who sold millions of dollars' worth of striped bass, illegally taken from the Chesapeake Bay and Potomac River, to shops and restaurants across the country, according to court documents filed in federal court this week.

Annually, Maryland's 1,231 licensed watermen account for about 2
million pounds of the 7 million pounds of striped bass legally caught
commercially on the Eastern Seaboard. The poaching scheme described in
court documents and by sources means that the state vastly exceeded its
annual striped bass quota for five years.

LINK (Via:The Baltimore Sun)

Comments

[Wally]

I hopes they go to s Federal pound me in the ass prison for a long time. Yaaaargh.

[Brian Wood]

The striper pirates are unfortunitly from my home town. As an avid fisherman of the prized Rockfish, I was very concerned to hear of such activity on my home waters. FYI- Here on marylands easternshore we refer to striped bass as rockfish. I will certainly not excuss these outlaw waterman for their actions but please know that waterman are facing tougher times than most. Earning a living on the waters of the Chesapeake Bay is rich in tradition and a part of a local way of life here. As much as these men of the bay love and covet there way of life, you will never meet a rich waterman. Years of overharvesting and mis management by both local and federal agencys have led to the decline of the watermans industry. Working these waters is all some of these people know and its unfortunate that they feel the need to perform illagal acts. Just know that its being done to put food on their tables. To pay the local gas bill. The powers that be need to act now to ensure a future for waterman. Lets not give them a need to overharvest. Im sure this response will rightful warrant some negative responses and I welcome hearing them. Fish on gentleman.