LA CONNER — Agents of the state Department of Fish and Wildlife Thursday seized 100 crab pots, a commercial crab fishing boat and two trucks Thursday from an Anacortes man they suspect of illegally catching and selling thousands of pounds of crabs since January.
The agency began the investigation after receiving multiple complaints from other “legitimate” commercial fishers, said Fish and Wildlife Sgt. Russ Mullins after officials served a search warrant on the alleged poaching operation.
No charges have been filed in the case, which Mullins described as the biggest crab poaching bust in his 13-years with the department.
He did not release the name of the Anacortes-area suspect. Investigators believe the man conspired with local wholesalers to illegally catch and sell the crab after his commercial fishing license was revoked in January for failing to pay child support, Mullins said.
At least three crab wholesalers were involved with selling the illegal catch, Mullins said. Read the Full Story
