COUPLE HELD IN ABALONE POACHING OFFICIALS SAY 60
MOLLUSKS TAKEN OVER FOUR WEEKS
Published on May 31, 2001
© 2001- The Press
Democrat
UCILIA WANG
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
A Butte County man and a Ukiah woman face charges of poaching
abalone on the Mendocino Coast and selling them on the black
market, a state official said Tuesday.
Son Van Le, 38, of Olivehurst, was seen taking at least 60
abalone off the coast over a four-week period, though he
claimed to have harvested only 24, said Steve Martarano, spokesman
for the state Department of Fish and Game. The agency regulates the
state's abalone fishery and sets the limits.
Le, who had been cited twice before for taking more than the
limit, was arrested Saturday along with Melisa Ann Mendoza, 26, as
they were leaving Fort Bragg with eight abalone, four more
than is allowed per day.
Le had a license to gather abalone while Mendoza
didn't, Martarano said. The limit per season is 100. Selling
abalone is illegal.
The two face charges including harvesting abalone for
commercial purposes, selling abalone, taking more than the
limit and conspiracy. The two could be fined a maximum of $40,000
and spend three years in prison for the conspiracy charges.
Investigators also searched Le's home and confiscated his
car, three handguns and 36 seal bombs, which are used to stun fish.
``There is a real effort to thwart those activities on our
part,'' said Martarano said, referring to the tough charges
associated with poaching and selling of abalone.
Le was observed by wardens selling abalone to
restaurants in Sacramento and the Bay Area, as well as to one
individual at a Karate studio. Martarano said investigators are
still interviewing the buyers, and a decision on whether to arrest
any of them hasn't been made.
Le also sold abalone to an undercover warden for $50
apiece, Martarano said.
Mendoza was acting as lookout while Le dived for
abalone, Martarano said. In the past, when wardens stopped Le
on the coast, Le would claim that the excess abalone belonged
to Mendoza or her two children.
Fish and Game officials regularly do spot checks on
abalone divers.
You can reach Staff Writer Ucilia Wang at 462-6473 or e-mail
uwang@pressdemocrat.com. Keywords: FISHING CRIME
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