Lobster poachers pinched in Santa Monica; crustaceans stuffed in bags, backpacks, a baby stroller

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Set us as preferred 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.During the operation, officers and specially trained canine teams from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife located lobsters stashed in duffel bags, backpacks, vehicles and even a baby stroller, authorities said in a Facebook post Tuesday.Authorities ultimately seized 34 lobsters, including several egg-bearing females, that were later returned to the ocean.Six people were arrested on suspicion of several violations, including the “take of lobster out of season, exceeding the daily bag limits of lobster, take of undersized lobster, take of lobster by hook and line and possession of more than triple the daily bag limit of lobster,” according to Fish and Wildlife.

Violating these rules can carry penalties of up to $1,000 per violation or up to one year in jail, authorities added.California’s spiny lobster season opened in October and closed on March 18.Authorities said the poaching suspects were apprehended “recently” but did not give a specific date for the operation.

Fish and Wildlife could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday.Each female spiny lobster produces one brood of 50,000 to 800,000 eggs per year, which they carry for around 10 weeks, the CDFW said.“The loss of an egg-bearing female lobster can have a substantial impact on the health of the lobster fishery and directly impacts legal anglers,” the department wrote in the Facebook post.The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.By continuing, you agree to our Terms of Service, which include arbitration and a class action waiver.

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