A man was caught smuggling lobsters out of the La Jolla State Marine Conservation Area. Binh Quang Chau was cited after game wardens noticed “odd bulges” in his pants. The odd bulge turned out to be six lobsters wrapped in newspapers. Apparently, Chau is a chronic lobster thief, since he has been caught three or four times poaching lobsters. I love seafood, but I’m not sure six lobsters are worth the risk—for several reasons. More at blogfish, and from the San Diego Union Tribune, United States:
When wardens arrested Chau for the second time, they noticed “odd bulges” in Chau’s pants.
Chau had wrapped six lobsters individually in newspaper and stuffed them down his drawers.
. . .
Fortunately, all six lobsters that Chau stuffed down his pants were still alive and were returned to the ocean, [said Department of Fish and Game warden Daryl Simmons].
. . .
Warden Simmons said yesterday that Chau spent six days in jail after he was arrested a third time by him and warden Borjeson. Once again, Chau was reported to be in the La Jolla State Marine Conservation Area, this time with three undersized lobsters, Simmons said. Because he had shown chronic disregard for Fish and Game laws, Chau was booked into San Diego County Jail, where he was held for six days. Chau combined the three cases the DFG made against him and plead guilty. His plea agreement called for three years’ probation, with a penalty of 90 days in jail if he violates his probation, 13 days’ work service, three-year suspension of all fishing in state ocean waters out to three miles and a $500 fine.
