CNB Hunting/Fishing Delaware: Commercial Conk Fisherman Arrested on Fisheries Charges
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
Kenneth W. Bailey
NEAR BOWERS BEACH, Del. (July 28, 2015) – DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers arrested a New Jersey-based, Delaware-licensed commercial waterman July 24 on numerous fisheries-related charges and a felony after he tried to evade a fisheries compliance boarding on Delaware Bay and steered his vessel away and into the path of a police boat.
Natural Resources Police said that as their patrol boat neared the commercial vessel, its captain, Kenneth W. Bailey, 61, of Heislerville, N.J., put the motor in gear and turned hard, nearly causing a collision with the approaching patrol boat. His crew was also observed dumping the contents of several bushel baskets of conch into the bay, despite a police command to stop, according to Cpl. John McDerby, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police.
Bailey was charged with felony tampering with physical evidence, second-degree reckless endangering, unlawful possession of horseshoe crabs for use as bait without a valid receipt and 103 counts of possession of undersized knobbed conch. Bailey was arraigned July 24 in Justice of the Peace Court 7 in Dover and released, pending a court date in the Court of Common Pleas.
The DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife recognizes and thanks the majority of anglers, hunters and boaters who comply with and support Delaware’s fishing, hunting and boating laws and regulations. Citizens are encouraged to report fish and wildlife and boating violations to the Delaware Fish & Wildlife Enforcement Section by calling 302-739-4580. Wildlife violations may also be reported anonymously to Operation Game Theft by calling 800-292-3030 or online at www.dnrec.delaware.gov/fw/Hunting/Pages/OpGameTheft.aspx.