Six fishermen charged with possession of lobster in closed season

Six fishermen have been arrested and charged in connection with the seizure of more than 600 pounds of illegally fished lobster.

Reports are that marine police were patrolling the coast between the hours of 5 am and 6 am on Friday, May 21 when they stopped and searched a vessel in the Pedro Banks area off the coast of Bluefields, Westmoreland, and recovered 668 pounds of lobster aboard.

Charged with possession of lobster in closed season under the fisheries act are: 65-year-old Lebert Pryce, 62-year-old Thaddius Davis, 60-year-old Bertel Reid, 50-year-old Anthony Michael Lee and 44-year-old Christopher Daley all from White House, Westmoreland, and 57-year-old George Hewitt from Long Hill in the parish.

The annual closed season for Lobster began on April 1 and will continue until June 30. 

Lobsters in storage between April 1 and 21 which have been declared to the Licensing Authority were permitted to be sold, exported or processed within that 21-day period.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries reported that in addition to Friday's recovery, 400 pounds were seized about two weeks ago in the same area.

However, it is not clear whether anyone was charged in relation to that incident.

During the annual closed season anyone found in possession of spiny lobsters are liable for prosecution and can be fined up to $3 million or face two years in prison if convicted.

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