2 Meriden Residents Charged In Illegal Fishing Case In West Haven: Police

WEST HAVEN, CT — Two Meriden residents were arrested on commercial fishing violations, including the illegal harvest of nearly 100 eastern oysters, after an enforcement operation in West Haven harbor overnight on Thursday, according to the Connecticut Environmental Conservation Police.

Police said the operation was conducted in response to "multiple complaints regarding illegal nets in the harbor."

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"Many of those complaints came from boaters concerned about the safety hazard the nets posed to vessels, including the risk of fouling motors," police wrote in a news release. "The nets were removed from the water and confiscated."

Qidong Chen and Yuqing Lin, both 53 of Meriden, were each charged with commercial fishing without a license, fishing for summer flounder without the required endorsement, possession of 15 undersize summer flounder (fluke), illegal harvest of 99 eastern oysters, shellfishing after sunset, and possession of 51 undersize blue crabs.

The minimum legal size for commercially harvested summer flounder in Connecticut is 14 inches, and the smallest fish seized measured 3.5 inches, according to police.

Police said the seized fish were donated to A Place Called Hope, a raptor rehabilitation center in Killingworth, where they will be used to feed birds of prey in the center's care.

"We often hear the sentiment that fish and game crimes are 'victimless' and therefore less serious," police wrote. "However, size limits and harvest hours exist so these species can reach reproductive age, and so the commercial fishermen who follow the law are not undercut by those who do not.

"This case began with reports from the public, we need your help to protect our states natural resources. Suspected fish and wildlife violations can be reported around the clock to DEEP Emergency Dispatch at 860-424-3333."