A Fresno, California woman was in for a shock after taking her children on a family vacation to Pismo Beach.
At the end of 2023, Charlotte Russ visited Her children had been collecting seashells at the beach, ABC 30 reported Thursday.
However, the family did not realize at the time that they had actually picked up 72 clams. Because clamming is regulated, Russ was ticketed and later notified that he would be fined a whopping $88,000.
image show Woman with family:
Mom fined $88,000 after kids collect 72 seashells thinking they were seashells on California beach: ‘Our trip was ruined’ https://t.co/8L92FFiqQz pic.twitter.com/B1inljv6Kd
— New York Post (@nypost) May 23, 2024
“I felt really sad and depressed and it ruined my trip,” Russ explained.
Meanwhile, Lt. Matthew Gill of the Fish and Wildlife Service explained that the rule was enacted to allow the clams to grow to 4.5 inches, after which they will spawn and produce offspring every year.
photograph show Clams collected by the family:
Family fined $88,000 after children collected clams at Pismo Beach thinking they were shellfish https://t.co/manw6IXOsv
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) May 23, 2024
According to the Pismo Beach website, the beach is call In 1947, it was named the “Clam Capital of the World.”
The site continued:
Pismo clams and Pacific mate clams made up the majority of the clam catch. The large influx of clams and sea otters may have led to a decline in the Pismo clam population, which is now gradually increasing. Pismo mussel populations can fluctuate dramatically due to a variety of natural influences.
…
Before you can go clam hunting, you must obtain a sea fishing license. As of 2023, the annual fee for a California Department of Fish and Wildlife saltwater license (365-day license) for California residents age 16 and older is $58.58 ($158.25 for non-residents). A 1-day license costs $19.18 and a 2-day license costs $29.42. Clam hunting is possible all year round. You will also need a clam fork and a measuring device called a “caliper.”
Russ’ family has learned a lot from this incident and wants others to hear their story so they don’t unknowingly get into trouble.
After Russ explained what happened to a San Luis Obispo County judge, the fine was reduced to $500.
“The expensive trip to Pismo was definitely one to remember,” she said.
