FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 23, 2013
Contacts:
Lt. Eric Kord, CDFW Enforcement, (858) 538-6017
Andrew Hughan, CDFW Communications, (916) 322-8944
CDFW Officers Cite Two for Abalone Poaching in Marine Protected Area
California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) wardens cited two Southern California men for illegally taking abalone from the Marine Protected Area (MPA) near Laguna Beach recently.
CDFW wildlife officers observed Juni Pong, 47, from El Monte and Kuan Yee, 47, from Yorba Linda, entering the ocean at Moss Cove in Laguna Beach in full scuba gear. After more than an hour of diving the two men returned to the beach and were met by an officer who found two green abalone in each of the mens diving gear.
Both suspects were cited for possession of abalone and take of fish inside a marine protected area, both potential misdemeanor violations, and then released. The abalone were photographed for evidence and returned to the sea, and the mens diving equipment was confiscated and impounded as evidence.
Abalone may only be taken north of San Francisco Bay during prescribed seasons. For abalone fishing regulations seewww.dfg.ca.gov/marine/invertebrate/regulations_rec.asp.
The case will be forwarded to the Orange County District Attorneys office for prosecution.
Contacts:
Lt. Eric Kord, CDFW Enforcement, (858) 538-6017
Andrew Hughan, CDFW Communications, (916) 322-8944
CDFW Officers Cite Two for Abalone Poaching in Marine Protected Area
California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) wardens cited two Southern California men for illegally taking abalone from the Marine Protected Area (MPA) near Laguna Beach recently.
CDFW wildlife officers observed Juni Pong, 47, from El Monte and Kuan Yee, 47, from Yorba Linda, entering the ocean at Moss Cove in Laguna Beach in full scuba gear. After more than an hour of diving the two men returned to the beach and were met by an officer who found two green abalone in each of the mens diving gear.
Both suspects were cited for possession of abalone and take of fish inside a marine protected area, both potential misdemeanor violations, and then released. The abalone were photographed for evidence and returned to the sea, and the mens diving equipment was confiscated and impounded as evidence.
Abalone may only be taken north of San Francisco Bay during prescribed seasons. For abalone fishing regulations seewww.dfg.ca.gov/marine/invertebrate/regulations_rec.asp.
The case will be forwarded to the Orange County District Attorneys office for prosecution.