DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police arrested a Sussex County man May 19 for commercial crabbing violations on the Inland Bays.
John L. Fabryka, 53, of Ocean View, was charged with one count of unlawful commercial crabbing in a non-commercial area, 10 counts of tending more than two recreational crab pots, 10 counts of improperly marked recreational crab pots and six counts of failure to tend recreational crab pots at least once within required 72-hour timeframe.
Fabryka pled guilty to all charges in Justice of the Peace Court 3 in Georgetown and was fined $2,558, including court costs. In addition to the fines, he received a court order prohibiting him from crabbing in the Inland Bays for one year.
The Fish and Wildlife division noted that blue crab is Delaware’s most valuable commercial species, with more than six times the value of all other commercial fisheries combined. Managing that fishery is a top priority.
Citizens are asked to report fish, wildlife and boating violations to the Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police by calling 302-739-4580. Wildlife violations may also be reported anonymously to Operation Game Theft by calling 800-292-3030 or online at http://de.gov/ogt.