Two more watermen have had their licenses suspended for improper oyster harvesting in the Chesapeake Bay and local tributaries.

The poaching incident comes on the heels of tightened oyster regulations that have many watermen worried. The stricter laws, passed last year by the Maryland legislature, are designed to more carefully oversee harvesting by increasing penalties on those who violate harvesting regulations.

Now with poaching on the rise, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources has stepped up enforcement and is trying to catch those who are doing such things as catching undersized oysters or harvesting during prohibited hours.

This is the second time in less than a month that DNR has used its regulations to suspend the licenses of watermen. DNR is allowed to suspend a license in cases where the public health, safety or welfare are at stake and emergency action is required.

DNR police are setting their own shifts to catch the illegal harvesters, who typically work overnight. In addition, DNR is employing a multi-million dollar network of surveillance equipment, including camera and radar devices, to monitor popular oyster areas.