X

Undersized lobsters confiscated from Price Chopper by DEC weren't from St. Lawrence County stores

Posted 8/3/16

None of the undersized lobsters confiscated from Price Chopper came from St. Lawrence County stores, according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation, according to DEC spokesman …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Undersized lobsters confiscated from Price Chopper by DEC weren't from St. Lawrence County stores

Posted

None of the undersized lobsters confiscated from Price Chopper came from St. Lawrence County stores, according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation, according to DEC spokesman Benning De La Mater.

Price Chopper has stores in Massena, Canton, Potsdam, Ogdensburg and Gouverneur.

DEC seized more than 1,100 pounds of undersized lobsters from the grocery chain in three different inspections over the last four months, the agency announced last week.

The case was sparked in March when ECOs in Region 7 found short lobsters at two Price Chopper stores in Binghamton.

In May, ECOs executed random checks at Price Chopper stores across the state and found similar results.

The distribution center for Price Chopper is located in Schenectady. ECOs performed a routine inspection at the facility Tuesday, measuring 297 cases of lobsters. They determined that 820 lobsters (approximately 15 percent of the inventory) were under the legal size limit set by the state’s Environmental Conservation Law.

At least 105 undersized lobsters have been seized at the other stores, with the total seizure valued at more than $7,000, DEC said.

The law requires lobsters taken, possessed, bought, sold, imported and exported in New York measure between 3 and 3/8-inches and 5 and 1/4-inches from the eye socket to the end of the body shell.

Size restrictions have been placed on lobsters, what DEC describes as “a valuable natural resource,” to protect the fishing stock. Over the last several decades, American lobsters have experienced periods of population declines due to overfishing, and allowing lobsters to grow and reach maturity bolsters the stock, DEC said.

Price Chopper faces fines for violations of ECL provisions of the Fish and Wildlife Law of up to $100 for every shellfish involved. DEC says they will attempt to negotiate a settlement with Price Chopper in the coming weeks.

The undersized lobsters were seized and donated to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York in Latham on Wednesday.