Two Chinese women were arrested in Serifos, Greece on September 19 for allegedly illegally catching 32 kilograms of clams and attempting to sell them.
According to local media reports in Greece, the two Chinese women, aged 61 and 54, were caught catching a total of 32 kilograms of European clams (scientific name: Ruditapes decussatus) without proper fishing permits and using unauthorized fishing tools, with plans to sell them.
The clams that were caught are a common edible species found in the Mediterranean region and are not endangered. However, upon inspection by the coast guard, it was found that all the clams seized were below the minimum size limit allowed by local laws.
It is reported that Greece has strict regulations on the size, tools, and quotas for marine products. The two women not only failed to obtain the necessary permits but also allegedly fished for “juveniles,” violating local fishing regulations.
Currently, the 32 kilograms of clams involved in the case have been confiscated, and the investigation is ongoing.
Many countries around the world have stringent legal restrictions on “beachcombing” and commercial fishing. In recent years, there have been numerous cases of Chinese individuals being arrested or fined overseas for illegal beachcombing or overfishing due to a lack of understanding of local laws or a sense of recklessness.
In 2014, several Chinese individuals in California were fined over $20,000 each for illegally fishing for abalone.
In 2015, four Chinese nationals violated New Zealand’s fishing regulations by collecting tens of thousands of tuatua shellfish in one go, resulting in the confiscation of two vehicles and a fine of 8000 New Zealand dollars ($5350).
At the end of July 2020, 40 Chinese people in Los Angeles were prosecuted for fishing without permits and overfishing at White Point Beach in San Pedro.
In May of this year, a Chinese woman in her 30s living in Ishioka City, Japan, followed advice from a social media platform claiming to provide tips for “beachcombing and clam picking,” went to the summer coast of Oarai Town, Ibaraki Prefecture, and hand-dug 3 kilograms of clams. As the coast is a restricted fishing protection zone prohibited for general public fishing, the woman’s actions are suspected of violating Japan’s Fisheries Law and “fishery rights infringement crime,” leading to her immediate arrest by the police. Not only were the 3 kilograms of clams confiscated, but the woman will also face criminal charges and substantial fines.