CDFW Officers Uncover Alleged Illegal Red Abalone Taken

California Department of Fish and Wildlife officials stumbled onto a possible illegal red abalone poaching incident. Here are details from the CDFW Facebook page:

During the recent minus tide along the Sonoma Coast, two wildlife officers spotted lights down at Ocean Cove — the kind of lights that usually mean someone is doing more than sightseeing. 

From a distance, the officers watched several individuals moving through the cove and placing items into containers. When the group eventually made its way back up the access road, the officers positioned themselves out of sight and waited. 

One individual carrying a bag was contacted. Inside? 15 poached red abalone. 

He was detained while officers checked the rest of the group. No additional arrests were made, but the individual in possession of the abalone was transported to the Sonoma County Detention Facility and booked for taking and possessing abalone with intent to sell. A report will be filed with the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office. 

Due to dwindling abalone numbers and environmental stressors, take of all abalone species is closed throughout California. 

Let’s keep California’s coastline healthy, protected and do everything we can to help abalone populations recover, increase and thrive.