TUNITAS BEACH – Late in the evening on August 22, 2020, CHP officers keeping watch over a road closure at SR-1, south of Tunitas Creek Road saw approximately 100 people illegally catching Dungeness Crab out of season. The legal season typically runs between November 1st and June 30th.
The officers notified the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and with the assistance of the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office, the law enforcement officers were able to intervene.
Multiple people were cited for various misdemeanor violations including:
- trespassing on Tunitas Beach after sunset,
- possession of Dungeness Crab outside of season,
- exceeding the limit of Dungeness Crab in possession
- and catching undersized Dungeness Crab.
The undersized Dungeness Crabs were safely returned to the ocean to help maintain the healthy population.
“When CHP officers witnessed this illegal activity, they knew who to call. California Department of Fish and Wildlife wardens are experts in the laws that protect our environment, sea and wildlife,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona. “Preserving and protecting our states valuable resources is protecting our quality of life.”
