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May 5, 2004

HAMPSTEAD FISHERMAN IS REPEAT OFFENDER

MOREHEAD CITY - A Pender County man has been charged for the third time this year with violating fisheries regulations.

At approximately 1 a.m. on Wednesday, May 5, the North Carolina Marine Patrol arrested Robert Carol Jones, Jr., 30, of 746 Lea Drive, in Hampstead, for taking crabs from someone else's crab pots, operating a boat after dark without running lights, and not having his fishing license ready at hand. Additional charges are pending. Jones' boat, motor, trailer, gear and catch were seized. Jones is scheduled to appear on June 19 in Pender County District Court for these charges.

On March 25, Jones, Jr. and his father, Robert Carol Jones, Sr., 58, of the same address, both sold oysters without a shellfish dealer's license and sold oysters without a harvester's tag to an undercover officer. On March 29, Jones, Jr., again sold oysters without a shellfish dealer's license and sold oysters without a harvester's tag to the same undercover officer. Father and son are scheduled to appear in New Hanover County District Court on June 16, 2004.

Because of potential adverse health risks associated with shellfish, oyster harvest and sale is highly regulated. Harvester tags are required on all shellfish sold, so health officials can immediately track when and where the shellfish was harvested.

On Feb. 19, Jones, Jr. was convicted in Pender County District Court of taking more than the legal limit of oysters, possessing oysters for sale without a harvester's tag, possessing undersized red drum, possessing over the legal limit of red drum, and selling red drum without a dealer's license. A civil penalty of $1,060.74 was assessed for the red drum violations.

If convicted of the most recent charges, Jones, Jr.'s fishing licenses will be revoked and can only be reissued at the discretion of the Division of Marine Fisheries director.

The public is encouraged to call and report fisheries violations to the Marine Patrol at 800-682-2632.

For additional information please contact, Lt. Jim Kelley, N.C. Marine Patrol, at 910-395-3900