shell I was shocked!
A California mother was fined $88,000 after her children mistakenly collected clams at the beach, thinking they were shellfish, without having a fishing license.
Charlotte Russ, who was on a family trip to Pismo Beach, known as the “Clam Capital of the World,” said her children picked up 72 clams at a popular clam-hunting spot during their vacation. According to ABC7.
The Fish and Wildlife Service ticketed the mother of five, telling her her children were collecting clams without a permit.
“I opened it right before I left and checked the amount then,” Russ said.
She later received a notice in the mail ordering her to pay a $88,993 fine, but a San Luis Obispo County judge reduced the fine to $500.
“I felt really sad and depressed and it really ruined my trip,” Russ told the outlet.
She said the whole experience taught her children and herself a valuable lesson about wildlife regulation.
“The kids know not to touch anything on the beach, but they know the difference between a shell and a clam, so I’ve had to explain that to them,” she said.
Making light of the harmless mix-up, Russ revealed that after he “won” the lawsuit, he got a seashell tattoo on his arm as a reminder of the situation.
“The trip to Pismo was definitely pricey and unforgettable,” Russ said.
According to the outlet, 58 citations were issued in San Luis Obispo County in 2023 for illegal clam harvesting.
The Fish and Wildlife Service says that to protect shellfish such as clams, it has imposed stiff penalties for anyone harvesting clams without a permit.
“The reason we have these regulations is because they have to grow up to 4.5 inches long so they can produce eggs and produce baby clams every year,” said Lt. Matthew Gill. Stated. he told the outlet.
Pismo clams are found only in the eastern Pacific Ocean and can be identified by their large, thick, triangular shells that are pale or brown in color.
The outside of the shell may also have a yellowish, tan, or green varnish-like coating.
Pismo shells are bivalves. That is, it has two tubes and a shell divided into two.
Pismo Beach is a beach Website.
Cramers are limited to 10 Pismo Crams per day.
Over the years, clam and sea otter populations have declined significantly, but shellfish populations have increased due to regulatory efforts.
