PORTLAND, Maine - A $15,000 reward is being offered in connection with a rise in lobster trap cutting incidents along the line between two lobster zones on the Maine coast, not far from Mt. Desert Island.
The Maine Department of Marine Resources says this has been happening since early summer. But he says there have been a lot more reports in recent weeks.
Authorities estimate gear losses from apparent territorial disputes among what's believed to be a small number of harvesters to be in excess of $350,000.
DMR spokesman Jeff Nichols says Commissioner Patrick Keliher says he'll do whatever is necessary to bring the violations to an end, including closing the area associated with these incidents.
"Not something he wants to do," Nichols says. "Obviously he doesn't want to penalize people who are not at fault here, but he's not ruling that option out."
Nichols says officials suspect around 15 individuals are involved in the alleged violations. The reward money, aimed at getting information that will help the Marine Patrol in its investigation, is being offered by Operation Game Thief.
