“Thank you to California’s officers who work to protect our fish and wildlife so all may enjoy what California has to offer in way of its natural resources.  Approaching individuals who are breaking California fish and wildlife laws can be dangerous and we thank these officers for their service.”

CSLEA President Alan Barcelona

PISMO BEACH – On October 29, 2025, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced that its law enforcement officers seized 178 undersized clams from four individuals who were spotted digging and collecting the species in a closed off area of Pismo Beach.

An officer spotted the individuals while on patrol at the north end of Pismo Beach, an area currently closed by the city to protect the recovering clams during their spawning period.

The officer approached the individuals as they were leaving and found grocery bags and a camouflage backpack containing the undersized Pismo clams. One-hundred and 20 of the clams were taken by just two suspects. The legal daily limit for collecting Pismo clams is 10 per person. None of the individuals had clam gauges, and all clams were below the 4-and-a-half-inch legal size limit.

The clams were photographed and reburied to give them the best chance of survival. These clams—and all California wildlife—belong to the people of this state and illegally taking them deprives everyone the opportunity to enjoy and benefit from our shared natural resources.