New Bedford Scallop Vessel Catch Seized, Captain Arrested

Scallops

NEW BEDFORD — On the 10th of October, a Massachusetts Environmental Police Officer conducted a commercial permit inspection aboard a scallop vessel in New Bedford.

During the inspection, the vessel was found to have a federal permit but not a valid commercial permit to land scallops in Massachusetts.

The officer also requested the boat's captain show him his catch of scallops to ensure compliance of the federal possession limits. The captain showed the officer the allowable catch of 600 pounds. However, after further inspection, another 150 pounds of scallops were found hidden in a beverage cooler.

The catch was seized and the vessel's captain was arrested for failure to display the catch upon demand. During the arrest process, the captain was also found to be in possession of Oxycodone without a prescription.