Alaska News

4 charged with stealing farmed oysters outside of Homer

Four people have been charged with stealing oysters at a remote oyster farm outside of Homer last month.

Ward Matthew Clarke, 44, Rebecca M. Clarke, 38, Christine L. Anderson Kulcheski, 47, and Anders Gustafson, 38, were each charged with one count of fourth-degree theft and first-degree criminal trespassing.

According to an affidavit from Alaska state trooper John Probst included in charging documents against the four, on July 13, Scott Fell, owner of Oyster Cove Sea Farms, reported oysters stolen from his farm in Little Jakolof Cove, across Kachemak Bay from Homer. Fell told troopers that thefts had been a problem and he had installed a trail camera to get proof of the losses.

Fell told troopers when he inspected his oyster nets for harvest around July 4 he noticed some of the nets were light. Fell was able to provide photos taken with the camera that identified the individuals, plus children, on the dock on July 4.

According to the affidavit, at the farm there is a large sign on the front of the dock that says "no trespassing keep off." It also notes that the cove is only accessible during high tide and that the theft would have to be planned prior to leaving the Homer harbor in order to enter and exit the cove.

The affidavit notes that about 200 oysters were stolen, a loss valued at $200.

Ward Clarke is listed as the deputy harbormaster in Homer and was considered a finalist for the city manager position, according to the Homer News. Gustafson is listed as the executive director of the Renewable Resources Foundation and Coalition. The coalition led the "Bristol Bay Forever" ballot initiative approved by voters in November.

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Marie Bader, president of the Kachemak Shellfish Mariculture Association and an oyster farmer herself, said oyster thefts are a small but potentially serious problem for farmers. Farmers raise the oysters in large layered nets that bring the oysters to harvestable size over a three- to six-year time frame. She said it's common for the 14 farms in the bay to notice nets partially emptied or even completely missing.

"It's like going into the garden and robbing your garden produce," she said.

The Clarkes and Kulcheski were charged July 21. Gustafson was later identified and charged July 24. Court appearances for the first three are scheduled for Tuesday.

Suzanna Caldwell

Suzanna Caldwell is a former reporter for Alaska Dispatch News and Alaska Dispatch. She left the ADN in 2017.

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