Bi Chen of Norfolk and Yuan Li of Chesapeake, VA, are facing multiple charges after being caught in a sting operation in mid-February. The Virginia Marine Police caught the men poaching in a southern branch of the Elizabeth River known as 'The Cove' after multiple complaints had been filed. The two men are in Chesapeake General District Court this afternoon to hear the charges read.
On February 14, the marine police found hidden nets responsible for the killing hundreds if not thousands of protected fish, large speckled trout and juvenile red drum. "Of these hundreds of fish, about 98 percent of them are over the legal size limit, Marine Police Officer Bill Thompson told The Daily Press. "This was a complete disregard for the species and for the fisheries. This was poaching on a large scale."
Although the men were caught separately, it was thought that they were working together. "One of the boats was so full of fish that it is amazing the boat did not sink," the Virginia Marine Resources Commission said in a statement at the time.
One of the nets was 200 feet long.
Charges:
Bi Chen
1. Possession of oversize red drum
2. Possession of oversize red drum (second charge in the same week)
3. Possession of over-limit red drum
4. Possession of over-limit red drum (second charge in the same week)
5. Over limit commercial landing quota
6. Operating a power vessel after sunset without navigation lights
Yuan Li
1. Using recreational gill net to catch commercially-regulated fish
2. Refusing seafood inspections by dumping fish overboard
3. Possession of oversize red drum
4. Possession of over-limit red drum
5. Possession of over-limit speckled trout
6. Possession of oversize speckled trout
7. Improperly marked gill net
8. Unattended recreational gill net
Additional charges are pending for both men. Only Bi Chen has a commercial fishing license.
The case is set for today in Chesapeake at the District Courthouse at 2 p.m.
The fish that were confiscated were taken to local food banks, fire departments, and churches.
Tuesday, April 14, 2015 - 09:23
Bi Chen of Norfolk and Yuan Li of Chesapeake, VA, are facing multiple charges after being caught in a sting operation in mid-February. The Virginia Marine Police caught the men poaching in a southern branch of the Elizabeth River known as 'The Cove' after multiple complaints had been filed. The two men are in Chesapeake General District Court this afternoon to hear the charges read.
On February 14, the marine police found hidden nets responsible for the killing hundreds if not thousands of protected fish, large speckled trout and juvenile red drum. "Of these hundreds of fish, about 98 percent of them are over the legal size limit, Marine Police Officer Bill Thompson told The Daily Press. "This was a complete disregard for the species and for the fisheries. This was poaching on a large scale."
Although the men were caught separately, it was thought that they were working together. "One of the boats was so full of fish that it is amazing the boat did not sink," the Virginia Marine Resources Commission said in a statement at the time.
One of the nets was 200 feet long.
Charges:
Bi Chen
1. Possession of oversize red drum
2. Possession of oversize red drum (second charge in the same week)
3. Possession of over-limit red drum
4. Possession of over-limit red drum (second charge in the same week)
5. Over limit commercial landing quota
6. Operating a power vessel after sunset without navigation lights
Yuan Li
1. Using recreational gill net to catch commercially-regulated fish
2. Refusing seafood inspections by dumping fish overboard
3. Possession of oversize red drum
4. Possession of over-limit red drum
5. Possession of over-limit speckled trout
6. Possession of oversize speckled trout
7. Improperly marked gill net
8. Unattended recreational gill net
Additional charges are pending for both men. Only Bi Chen has a commercial fishing license.
The case is set for today in Chesapeake at the District Courthouse at 2 p.m.
The fish that were confiscated were taken to local food banks, fire departments, and churches.