Overview
- The California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Tuesday that game wardens from across Southern California arrested six people and returned 34 spiny lobsters to the ocean.
- Specially trained canine teams located lobsters concealed in duffel bags, backpacks, vehicles and a baby stroller during the coordinated interception at the pier.
- Authorities charged the suspects with several violations, including taking lobster out of season, exceeding bag limits, taking undersized lobster and possession of more than triple the daily bag limit, each carrying fines up to $1,000 or up to one year in jail.
- CDFW warned that female spiny lobsters carry a single brood of roughly 50,000 to 800,000 eggs for about ten weeks, so removing egg-bearing females can substantially harm local reproduction and future legal catches.
- Officials said wardens will keep a heightened presence in Southern California bays, urged anonymous tips via CALTIP/tip411 and noted tipsters who lead to arrests may be eligible for cash rewards.