I learned what a “poacher” was when I was younger and my parents would take me to the Chesapeake Bay to go crabbing. I would always ask why we couldn’t just take some of the crabs from the various crab pots we would see scattered all over the bay. My parents explained that we would be “poaching”.

Poachers are not only people who take other’s crabs, oysters and fish, but also those who fish to sell without a license, harvest seafood that isn’t at proper size or otherwise violate fishing regulations.

Currently, many watermen are reporting that poachers are after the Chesapeake Bay’s oysters since they are getting scarce. Maryland has recognized this problem and is stepping up efforts to punish poachers. During the 2009 General Assembly session, Maryland Gov. Martin  O’Malley signed three laws to help deter poaching. These included allowing the Department of Natural Resources to suspend commercial licenses of fishermen convicted of poaching and increasing the fine for those convicted.

Many still argue that penalties can be stricter and hope that this year more laws will be passed to protect oysters.

It is sad to think that people have to resort to poaching. Even when oysters and crabs were plentiful in the Chesapeake Bay, people still took illegally. And now with catches dwindling and the economy reeling from recession, it should come as no surprise that the number of poachers would increase.