The US local broadcaster “ABC7“ reports on an expensive beach trip. After a wonderful day at the beach in California, Charlotte Russ and her family suddenly find themselves facing a fine of over $88,000, a good 81,000 euros. The reason for this was that her children collected 72 live mussels during the visit.
Nature conservation rule justifies mega-penalty
“I only noticed shortly before we left that my children were collecting live mussels,” the mother told ABC 7. The misunderstanding led to the family being issued a ticket on the beach in the small town of Fresno. They later received a notice that they would have to pay a fine of over $88,000.
The severe fine is issued by the California Department of Fisheries to protect the diversity of mussels. Lieutenant Matthew Gil from the responsible department explained to the local broadcaster why the strict rules are necessary. If the mussels do not reach a size of at least eleven centimeters, they cannot reproduce and the population is at risk.
Merciful judge relieves family of financial total loss
After Russ explained the situation to a San Luis Obispo County judge, the fine was reduced to $500. To warn others about similar situations, she is now sharing her story. The mother said she learned her lesson and stressed the importance of informing your children before visiting a beach.
According to ABC 7, a total of 58 tickets were issued for collecting protected mussels in the county last year. Even though the Russ family got off lightly in the end, the mother would have liked to have been better informed. She criticizes the warning signs as being easy to miss. Since the incident, she has had a shell tattoo, which she shows to ABC 7 with a smile.
How holidaymakers protect themselves from fines
Shell collectors should always be aware of what they are taking from the beach. Lieutenant Gil from the fisheries inspectorate explains to “ABC 7”: “If you take the remains of dead sea creatures with you, that’s OK. You can tell that shells are alive because both shells are firmly together.” But collecting shells can also be a drain on your vacation budget.
For example, holidaymakers in Italy who are caught with shells or sand at the airport. Offenders face a fine of up to 9,300 euros. In general, holidaymakers should inform themselves about the regulations in their destination country. “Eco test“ points out that the regulations vary from country to country. And even back in Germany, problems may arise if the souvenirs collected are protected species. The portal warns of fines of up to 10,000 euros.