Lobsterman Charged with Multiple Violations Following Marine Enforcement Operation

By New England Pulse Media

PORTSMOUTH, NH — A Maine lobsterman operating in New Hampshire has been charged with multiple state and federal marine violations following a coordinated enforcement operation.

At approximately 4 a.m. on April 23, New Hampshire Fish and Game Conservation Officers boarded the lobster vessel FOR THE WIN in Portsmouth after a month-long investigation into licensing and equipment violations in federal waters and landings within the state. The vessel is operated by Rodney Genthner of Friendship, Maine, who recently relocated operations to New Hampshire following previous convictions and license suspensions in his home state.

The enforcement action was conducted with assistance from the Maine Marine Patrol and the New Castle Police Department.

Violations identified during the operation include:

• Possession of V-notched female lobsters, which are protected breeding females and illegal to possess
• Possession of undersized lobsters with a carapace length under 3 1/4 inches
• Unlawful dumping of fish in state harbors
• Unlawful possession of wolf fish, a species protected under both state and federal law
• Failure to operate a vessel monitoring system, a requirement for federally permitted vessels operating in federal waters

According to NH Fish and Game, marine species enforcement is a shared responsibility among state and federal partners, and violations are strictly prosecuted. NH Conservation Officers are also deputized federal enforcement officers under the National Marine Fisheries Service, a branch of NOAA.

Officials emphasized that marine species unlawfully removed from the ecosystem disrupt sustainable population efforts and that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Information for this article was provided by New Hampshire Fish and Game.