Poached Lobsters Found Hidden in Backpacks, Baby Stroller at Santa Monica Pier; 6 Arrested
Six people were arrested after officers found lobsters hidden in bags, vehicles and a stroller, including several egg-bearing females.
- On Tuesday, California wildlife officials announced the arrest of six men for poaching 34 spiny lobsters at the Santa Monica Pier during the annual seasonal closure. Officers returned the live crustaceans to the ocean.
- Suspects used "sophisticated methods" to conceal their illegal catch, hiding the shellfish in duffel bags, backpacks, vehicles, and even a baby stroller. The spiny lobster season officially closed on March 18.
- Vital to the local marine ecosystem, the seized catch included several egg-bearing females capable of producing up to 800,000 eggs annually. Wildlife officers promptly returned these lobsters to the ocean.
- Authorities stated the six individuals face charges for multiple wildlife violations, including taking lobster out of season and exceeding daily bag limits. Convictions carry penalties up to $1,000 per violation or one year in jail.
- Officials urge the public to report wildlife crimes by calling the CALTIP hotline at 888-334-2258 or submitting tips through the free "tip411" application. Tipsters may be eligible for cash rewards.
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16 Articles
State authorities arrested the suspects, who caught 34 lobsters in Santa Monica; they tried to remove them in bags and in a baby stroller
6 Arrested After Poached Lobsters Found Hidden In A Baby Stroller at Santa Monica Pier... Explaining California's Bizarre Lobster Black Market
One of my niche fascinations right now is the decades-long cat-and-mouse game playing out on the California coast over spiny lobster poaching. It sounds like a punchline until you look at the numbers, and then it looks like a heist movie. Because when you think “lobster,” you probably picture a quaint New England harbor town […] The post 6 Arrested After Poached Lobsters Found Hidden In A Baby Stroller at Santa Monica Pier… Explaining California…
Six Men Arrested for Lobster Poaching at Santa Monica Pier During Seasonal Closure
SANTA MONICA - California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) officers arrested six men for poaching dozens of lobsters at the Santa Monica Pier while the fishery was closed for the annual seasonal protection period. According to a CDFW announcement released Tuesday, the suspects employed sophisticated methods to harvest and conceal the protected crustaceans. The poached lobsters were hidden...
Lobster poachers pinched in Santa Monica; crustaceans stuffed in bags, backpacks, a baby stroller
A clawed caper at the Santa Monica Pier went awry despite 'sophisticated' attempts by suspects to get away with poaching roughly three dozen spiny lobsters, authorities said.
LA Daily News
OC RegisterDogs assist in arrest of 6 at Santa Monica Pier on suspicion of poaching lobsters
The spiny lobster season closed on March 18. Thirty-four of the lobsters, including several egg-bearing females, were seized and returned to the ocean alive.
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