RANCHO PALOS VERDES – On May 30, 2024, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announced that CDFW officers responding to a citizen’s tip, discovered three people within the Point Vicente State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) who behaved suspiciously upon seeing the officers.  According to CDFW, one suspect grabbed a large black trash bag, entered the surf and emptied the bag. One wildlife officer ran over to the suspect and detained him to prevent further loss of potential poaching evidence. While still in uniform, the officer went into the surf to collect the evidence and successfully recovered nine dead lobsters. The other wildlife officer detained the other two suspects and found a 10th lobster.

It’s lobster breeding season and four of the 10 lobsters were females bearing eggs, which is the main reason why lobster fishing isn’t open this time of year.

The wildlife officers cited the subjects for possession of lobster out of season, possession of undersize lobster, take of lobster without a measuring device, take in Point Vicente SMCA and fishing without a license.

The suspect attempting to dump the lobster was charged with obstruction of a peace officer in the performance of their duties. All lobsters and dive gear were seized as evidence and the case was filed with the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office.

“The public can play a vital role in assisting CDFW officers who work to protect fish and wildlife, as this case demonstrates.  CDFW was alerted to the poaching incident via its tipline and responded accordingly,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona.