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BANGOR, Maine — A lobsterman from Stonington is facing numerous charges after a Maine Marine Patrol investigation this month into illegal lobster harvesting activity.

Benjamin Weed, 29, is charged with fishing with untagged lobster traps, fishing more than 49 percent of his allotted traps in a limited entry zone, fishing 287 traps without the necessary tags declaring both zones he was licensed to fish in and three violations of regulations designed to protect whales.

Weed faces up to $17,250 in fines and the prospect of a one-year suspension of his license and the ability to obtain any license, the department said Thursday in a news release.

Weed holds a lobster license and also held a commercial fishing license and shrimp license last year.

"The potential fine he is facing is substantial but the possibility of a one-year loss of income could have a far greater consequence," Maine Department of Marine Resources Commissioner Patrick Keliher said.

Read the full story at the Bangor Daily News>>

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