Violations occur during miniseason Illegal lobsters seized and released

A female lobster bearing eggs and three undersized lobsters were seized and released alive Thursday off Fort Lauderdale, as law enforcement officers inspected boats on the last day of lobster miniseason.

The Coast Guard and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission boarded boats for routine checks for compliance with the rules on catching Florida’s popular edible crustacean, according to a news release from the Coast Guard.

It is illegal to take females bearing eggs, which are easily visible under the tail, according to the wildlife commission.

Criminal citations were issued for each of the violations, said Officer Tyson Matthews, spokesman for the wildlife commission. The lobsters were released on the reef off Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park, he said.

In the Florida Keys, the most popular spot for the two-day miniseason, there have been citations and arrests for catching undersized lobsters, taking lobsters before the start of the season and catching egg-bearing females, said Carol Lyn Parrish, spokeswoman for the wildlife commission.

Miniseason ran Wednesday and Thursday, offering the

public the chance to catch spiny lobsters ahead of the regular recreational and commercial season that starts Aug. 6.

Although miniseason sometimes leads to fatal accidents, particularly for divers, there have been none reported off Broward or Palm Beach counties or in the Keys, according to the wildlife commission.

The commission said a final tally of violations and any accidents won’t be available until next week.