Two people stand beside a pickup truck as orange buckets filled with purple sea urchins spill into the truck bed, alongside abalone shells and harvesting gear, in a paved coastal area.
Buckets of purple sea urchins and red abalone sit in the bed of a pickup truck after wildlife officers contacted a couple suspected of poaching along the rocky shoreline at Van Damme State Park south of Mendocino, Calif. in February 2026. The woman was ticketed on suspicion of poaching red abalone, while her fishing companion was found to be in compliance, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. (CDFW via Bay City News)

MENDOCINO CO., 2/6/26 – A woman was ticketed last weekend on suspicion of poaching red abalone from the waters along Van Damme State Park south of Mendocino, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said Thursday.  

According to the agency, a wildlife officer observed a man and woman taking purple sea urchins from the rocky shoreline of the park. But it was more than urchins the woman was allegedly taking. Moments later, the officer said he saw her shove an abalone down her pants.  

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Sarah Stierch covers breaking news and more for The Mendocino Voice. Reach her at sarah@mendovoice.com.