Elver cases come before court
Dan Rizza of Newport displays one night's yield of elver eels caught at Mill Cove in Boothbay Harbor. RYAN LEIGHTON/Boothbay Register
Dan Rizza of Newport displays one night's yield of elver eels caught at Mill Cove in Boothbay Harbor. RYAN LEIGHTON/Boothbay Register
Glass eels were on the menu at the Lincoln County District Court June 20.
Six defendants pleaded guilty to illegally fishing for elvers, or glass eels, which now carries a tougher punishment.
In 2012, fishing for elvers without a license was upgraded from a civil offense to a criminal one. With that change, the penalty jumped from $500 to a mandatory $2,000 fine for fishing for the small eels without a license.
Jail time could be imposed for first-time offense under new restrictions, whereas jail time was only levied at repeat offenders in the past.
Elvers cost between $1,600 to $2,000 per pound in 2013.
Devin Davis pleaded guilty to fishing elvers without a license and was ordered to pay $2,000.
James Grover plead guilty to fishing within 150 feet of a fishing way and fishing for elvers without a license and was fined $2,500.
Teddy Palina pleaded guilty to fishing for elvers without a license and fishing within 150 feet of a dam and was fined $2,500.
Jerry Pike pleaded guilty to fishing for elvers without a license and fishing within 150 feet of a fishing lane and was fined $2,500.
Nichole Brackett pleaded guilty to fishing for elvers without a license and was fined $1,000.
Ben Bulkeley can be reached at 207-633-4620 or bbulkeley@boothbayregister.com. Follow him on Twitter: @BBRegisterBen.
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