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A prominent commercial fisherman from Guilford who was found not guilty earlier this year of poaching clams from another person's state-leased shellfish bed is now suing the state inspectors who arrested him.

Nicholas Crismale claims he was targeted by the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection because of his criticism of that agency. Crismale is president of the Lobstermen's Association of Connecticut and has accused the agency of failing to protect the Long Island Sound lobster fishery.

"I believe they used selective enforcement to publicize this case," Crismale said Tuesday. He charges that state officials wanted "to compromise my integrity as an industry leader."

DEEP spokesman Dennis Schain said his agency can't comment in detail because "the matter is in litigation," but said state officials "disagree with the allegations."

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