(KRON) — A man in possession of over a dozen poached red abalone was arrested in Sonoma County, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Wednesday.
The suspect, who was not identified by authorities, was among a group of people observed by wildlife officers at Ocean Cove along the Sonoma Coast during a recent minus tide. The officers watched from a distance as individuals were seen placing items into containers, CDFW said.
As the group walked back to the access road, officers contacted one man and discovered a bag containing 15 poached abalone, according to wildlife officials.
“Due to dwindling abalone numbers and environmental stressors, take of all abalone species is closed throughout California,” CDFW said…