Robert Majors, 41, of Bristol, and Peter Parente, 53, of West Greenwich, who the DEM identified as commercial fishermen in Massachusetts, were arrested on Wednesday as a result of stepped-up patrols off Block Island as part of a multi-agency effort called “Operation Level Playing Field.”
In a joint operation, Connecticut State Environmental Conservation Police and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation patrolled the waters off Block Island to target illegal striped bass fishing. They boarded boats fishing on the Southwest Ledge off the coast of Block Island, an area frequented by charter boats, dive operations and both recreational and commercial anglers.
DEM officers learned at the time that Majors and Parente were believed to be fishing in the area and selling their catch in Massachusetts, which is illegal. Working on a tip, Wednesday, DEM officers approached Parente and Majors at a residence in West Greenwich and found them to be in possession of 38 striped bass with a total weight of 1,054 pounds. None had the right pectoral fin removed. Regulations require the fin to be clipped so the fish can easily be identified as having been caught by recreational fishermen. Dealers are not allowed to sell striped bass with clipped fins.
