[NCangler]

MOREHEAD CITY – State Marine Patrol officers kept potentially tainted shellfish from reaching the fish markets last week by arresting a man caught clamming in polluted waters.

John William Labadie, 45, of 227 Center St., Newport, faces a charge of taking clams from polluted waters, his second offense of the kind within two years, which makes it a Class I felony.

Officers Michele Turner and Dave Morris responded Wednesday, Dec. 12, to a report that someone was taking shellfish in an area of Bogue Sound that is permanently closed to shellfishing. They found Labadie clamming just west of Gales Creek, in Carteret County, and confiscated a bushel of clams from him.

The clams were returned to the water.

Labadie was convicted Oct. 25, 2006 of taking shellfish from a polluted area in Broad Creek in Carteret County. If convicted of this second offense, he could receive of fine of no less than $2,500 and suspension of his commercial shellfish license.

Bogue Sound, between channel markers 14 and 19, is closed to shellfishing because of high bacteria counts, said Wayne Mobley, director of the Shellfish Sanitation Section of the Division of Environmental Health.

Clamming in a polluted area is a serious charge because it poses great danger to consumers, Mobley said. Polluted shellfish can carry diseases such as hepatitis and typhoid, he said.

“If the shellfish got into the markets, it could cause serious illness, even death in some cases,” Mobley said.

Additionally, if a serious illness were tied to North Carolina shellfish, it would ruin the market value of the product, Mobley said.

For more information, contact Marine Patrol Captain Steve Anthony or Sgt. Chris Bennett at (252) 726-7021 or (800) 682-2632.