Four Eastern Shore watermen were charged this month with taking oysters from protected waters and other environmental violations, Maryland Natural Resources Police said.
Adam Rodney Antes, 32, of Nanticoke, was cited for power dredging in the Nanticoke sanctuary in Wicomico County at 6:30 a.m. on Jan. 20, the NRP said.
He is scheduled to appear April 7 in Wicomico District Court on charges of unlawful harvesting and operating a vessel without proper running lights. The charges carry potential fines of up to $3,085.
The three others were seen in two commercial hand tonging boats harvesting oysters from the Howell Point-Beacon Sanctuary at the mouth of La Trappe Creek, a Choptank River tributary in Talbot County on Jan. 16, police said.
Kevin Steven Tarleton, 45, Kevin Steven Tarleton Jr., 22, and Daniel Paul Wilson, 20, were charged with harvesting oysters in a sanctuary, police said.
Tarleton was also charged with possessing nine bushels of oysters over the daily hand tong limit, and Tarleton Jr. was charged with refusing to comply with a lawful order, police said.
Officers seized 51 bushels of oysters and returned them to the sanctuary.
The three — all of Tilghman — have hearings scheduled for March 19 in Talbot District Court. They face fines up to $3,000 as well as commercial license suspensions of six months to a year.
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