US Mum Fined $88,000 After Kids Collected Clams Mistaking Them As Seashells

A beach outing turned into a costly lesson for a California family when an innocent mistake led to an unexpected fine. A mother in California, USA, was fined $88,000 (about Rs 73 lakh) after her kids mistook 72 clams for seashells and gathered them. Unaware that Pismo Beach is the "Clam Capital of the World," Charlotte Russ's kids took the molluscs out of the shell when they were on vacation. She was surprised to learn, when speaking with a Department of Fish and Wildlife officer in Fresno, that her five children had been collecting clams without permission.

A very expensive Lesson

When a state official from the Department of Fish and Wildlife approached the Fresno resident, she was astonished to find that her five children were gathering clams without a license.

Charlotte Russ, a Fresno resident, told ABC30, "My kids thought they were collecting seashells, but they were actually collecting clams—72, to be exact." The situation became grave when Russ received a fine notice.

"I opened it right before we left, and that's when I saw the amount," Ms. Russ said."It really ruined our trip and made me sad and depressed."

The question arises: what prompted the imposition of this fine?

Lt. Matthew Gil from the Department of Fish and Wildlife emphasises the importance of regulations to protect shellfish species.

"The reason we have these regulations is to allow the shellfish to reach four-and-a-half inches so they can spawn and produce offspring each year, including juvenile clams," explained Lt. Gil.

He also emphasized the need to educate oneself and one's children before visiting the seaside. "If you find a dead sand dollar, a dead animal, or a broken seashell, it is acceptable to collect it," he said. In contrast, Pismo clams can maintain both of their shells. Lieutenant Gil stated, "If the shells do not break easily, it is a living clam."

Charlotte Russ did, however, manage to get her fine reduced to $500 when she expressed regret to a San Luis Obispo County judge for her mistake. She got a seashell tattoo as a celebration of her court victory.