Officers from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) cited four individuals in Los Angeles, California, U.S.A., after catching them harvesting 236 spiny lobsters during a closed season.
According to the California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA), CDFW officers spotted lights and suspicious activity around 11 p.m. during coastal patrol around Royal Palms Beach. The officers saw four individuals diving for spiny lobsters and returning them to shore throughout the night; when officers initiated contact at 3 a.m., the individuals fled.
Law enforcement were able to apprehend the suspects, and a subsequent search found 236 spiny lobsters. The commercial and recreational spiny lobster season has been closed in Southern California since March.
“CDFW officers work all hours of the day and night to help protect our natural resources. They often encounter individuals who are armed and that in itself adds an element of danger to their jobs. We thank them for their service and always hope for their complete safety,” CSLEA President Alan Barcelona said in a statement.
Almost all the lobsters seized – 210 – were undersized, and officers claim there were no measuring devices at the scene, as required by law. None of the suspects had fishing licenses.
“Fortunately, most of the poached lobsters were still alive and were safely returned back into the ocean after a quick count and photographs for evidence,” CSLEA said in a release.
The four individuals were cited for taking lobster during a closed season, possession of undersized lobster, commercialization without a license, fishing without a license, and harvesting lobster without a measuring device.
