I suspect as seafood prices and just about everything else we eat continue to rise in cost, we will see more and more of this. It's not an excuse, as all poachers should pay the price.
From July 13 to 17, ECOs Milliron, Michalet, and McCarthy apprehended large groups of poachers illegally taking shellfish from Jamaica Bay. On multiple days, ECOs responded to dozens of complaints of people taking bags and buckets of mussels, hard clams, razor clams, and soft clams. Jamaica Bay is closed for harvesting shellfish due to water quality. Along with the potential health risks of consuming shellfish from the bay, clams serve an important ecological purpose, especially in the estuary surrounding New York City. The Officers issued 23 tickets for taking shellfish from uncertified waters, dumping upon signal to stop (misdemeanor), possession of untagged shellfish, and pollution of the waters of the Marine District. A total of 3,806 illegally harvested claims were returned to the waters of Jamaica Bay before they could be potentially consumed or illegally sold. The penalties for illegally harvesting shellfish in New York State range from a $250 to $1,000 fine, and the value of the shellfish illegally taken can be added to the fine.
buckets, bags, and styrofoam coolers full of shellfish, and a fish on the pavement
Mussels, razor clams, hard/soft clams, and undersized fluke illegally poached from Jamaica Bay
From July 13 to 17, ECOs Milliron, Michalet, and McCarthy apprehended large groups of poachers illegally taking shellfish from Jamaica Bay. On multiple days, ECOs responded to dozens of complaints of people taking bags and buckets of mussels, hard clams, razor clams, and soft clams. Jamaica Bay is closed for harvesting shellfish due to water quality. Along with the potential health risks of consuming shellfish from the bay, clams serve an important ecological purpose, especially in the estuary surrounding New York City. The Officers issued 23 tickets for taking shellfish from uncertified waters, dumping upon signal to stop (misdemeanor), possession of untagged shellfish, and pollution of the waters of the Marine District. A total of 3,806 illegally harvested claims were returned to the waters of Jamaica Bay before they could be potentially consumed or illegally sold. The penalties for illegally harvesting shellfish in New York State range from a $250 to $1,000 fine, and the value of the shellfish illegally taken can be added to the fine.
buckets, bags, and styrofoam coolers full of shellfish, and a fish on the pavement
Mussels, razor clams, hard/soft clams, and undersized fluke illegally poached from Jamaica Bay
