PGPD says its illegal to take items from beach, leave shells for hermit crabs

The Pacific Grove Police Department said it has received several complaints of people taking items from beaches that could directly impact marine life on the Central Coast.

PGPD wrote on Facebook saying “Don’t be shell-fish, stop taking sea shells from the beach!”

Hermit crabs are known for using shells as their home. If they can’t find any shells, they’ll use just about anything else.

On Sunday, the department posted photos of crabs using things like broken bottle caps.

“We would like to remind everyone that it is against the law to remove items from the beach and can be punishable as a misdemeanor,” the department said. “Please don’t wait, get vehicle, clothing, and persons descriptions with as much detail as possible to forward to our officers.”

“You don’t take anything from a place like this. It belongs to the sea, it belongs to the land,” said Joy and Helen, who are visiting the Central Coast.

The Pacific Grove Police Department said a small handful of shells is acceptable, but not any more than that.

“You know we don’t want people not to have fun and collect shells, but it is important that we just take a small amount,” said Elizabeth Yeo, Animal Control Officer in Pacific Grove.

Marine Scientists told KION that hermit crabs are one of the few crabs that aren’t actually able to make their own shells and because of that they rely on old shells as their own home.

That is why taking too many shells can be harmful to the hermit crabs and could get you a misdemeanor.

If you spot someone taking items from the beach call 911 or the non-emergency line at 831-648-3143.

Pacific Grove Police also want to remind the public that too much trash on the beach can also be harmful to the creatures.