CDFW News

CDFW Investigation Finds SoCal Restaurant in Violation of Fishing and Advertising Laws

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 10:36:43 GMT

Restaurant Managers Ordered to Pay Tens of Thousands in Penalties; Fishing Vessel Owner and Operators Prohibited from Commercial Fishing in State.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) wildlife officers conducted an investigation into Dudley Market, a high-end restaurant and fish business in Venice, Calif., for unlawfully selling seafood while advertising its products as traceable, sustainable and lawfully sourced. The investigation found repeated violations of state and federal commercial fishing laws in 2020 and 2021.

Prosecutors from the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office and Santa Barbara and Los Angeles County district attorney’s offices resolved the case through a civil enforcement action under California’s Unfair Competition Law. The case resulted in more than $100,000 in penalties for the restaurant and its managers, and fishing vessel owners and operators involved have been prohibited from owning or operating a commercial fishing vessel in California.

“Commercial fishing laws exist to protect our oceans and preserve marine ecosystems,” said Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman. “These businesses lured the public into thinking they were caring for our precious resources, when in reality, their fish was unlawfully sourced. Sustainability was the bait, but fraud was the hook. The message is clear; this kind of deception will not be tolerated.”

Conner Mitchell, 37, of Venice, and Taylor Grant, 41, of Santa Monica, managed Dudley Market in 2020 through the business entities Dudley Street Oyster Bar and Shark Bite Fish Co. Grant later ended her association with the business, while Mitchell continued overseeing daily operations and seafood procurement. Mitchell operated the commercial fishing vessel Jamaica Day, which he and Grant used to catch fish for the restaurant. Cody Martin, 30, of El Segundo, operated the commercial fishing vessel Predator and supplied fish to Dudley Market.

CDFW wildlife officers served search warrants on cellular devices belonging to Mitchell and Martin, as well as the chart plotter aboard the commercial fishing vessel Predator. Evidence obtained during the investigation revealed repeated violations of laws governing California’s commercial fishing and seafood industry.

Under California law, it is illegal to sell sport-caught fish commercially. Fish taken by a commercial vessel also must be lawfully brought to port and documented on an electronic fish ticket before being removed from the vessel. This documentation is critical for CDFW and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries to effectively manage California fisheries and ensure long-term sustainability.

The investigation revealed numerous violations of California commercial fishing laws, including the unlawful purchase, possession and sale of sport-caught fish such as rockfish, bluefin tuna and yellowtail; commercial fishing activity conducted without required licenses; failure to lawfully document federally managed species brought to shore; illegal harvest of rockfish within restricted conservation areas and state marine protected areas; and the marketing of unlawfully sourced seafood as sustainable, traceable and lawfully procured.

As part of the settlement Mitchell, Dudley Street Oyster Bar and Shark Bite Fish Co. were ordered to pay $58,226.25 in civil penalties, $15,000 to the Fish and Game Preservation Fund and $1,773.75 in court costs and fees in May 2026. Grant was ordered to pay $40,000 in civil penalties and $10,000 to the Fish and Game Preservation Fund in Jul. 2025. Martin was ordered to pay $8,000 in civil penalties and $2,000 to the Fish and Game Preservation Fund in Sep. 2025. Grant and Martin are prohibited from commercial fishing in California. Gilmer Grant, owner of fishing vessel Jamaica Day in 2020, was ordered to pay $10,000 in civil penalties and $5,000 to the Fish and Game Preservation Fund in Aug. 2025 and is prohibited from owning or operating a commercial fishing vessel in California. The settlement also requires compliance oversight measures, public disclosure notices and additional financial penalties should future violations occur.

“Angelenos deserve to know that the seafood they purchase is safely sourced from businesses that are following the law and not jeopardizing local marine life,” according to Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto. “My office will always hold accountable those who violate laws designed to protect consumers and our fragile ecosystems.”

Santa Barbara County District Attorney John Savrnoch added, “Violating fishing regulations that are intended to preserve Marine Protected Areas threatens the environment and the fishing industry that depends on sustainable fish stocks in the future.”

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Media Contacts:
Kory Collins, CDFW Law Enforcement Division, (310) 944-8182
Cort Klopping, CDFW Communications, (916) 201-2958

CDFW Urges Public to Leave Baby Deer Alone

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 12:02:19 GMT

Late spring and early summer are peak times for California’s deer herds to give birth to fawns, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is issuing a reminder to well-intentioned residents and visitors to not interact with the baby deer – even if they find one that appears to be abandoned or hungry.

Adult female deer regularly stash their fawns in tall grass or brush for as long as a day while they are out foraging for food.

“Every year we receive calls from concerned individuals and families about fawns and other young wildlife that appear to be abandoned or in distress,” said Jeff Stoddard, Wildlife Program Manager from CDFW’s Northern Region. “Our direction most often is to stay clear of the animal so the mother feels safe to return and so your presence does not attract unwanted attention to the fawn by people or other animals. In almost every case, the mother returns after dark or when it appears quiet and the mother feels safe to do so.”

Each year, CDFW and wildlife rehabilitation facilities are called to assist with fawns that have been removed from the wild by local residents and those recreating outdoors. The fawns lack the survival skills their mothers would have taught them and cannot be released back into the wild. Long-term captivity in zoos or other wildlife sanctuaries is unlikely due to limited space availability. Consequently, the fawns are often euthanized.

Only a limited number of wildlife rehabilitation facilities are permitted to accept fawns. Due to disease concerns, it is not recommended to move fawns outside of their home county. If a fawn is found on a road or another dangerous location, it is often better to use a towel or blanket and move the animal a short distance to suitable vegetation and allow it to reunite with its mother. A doe will not abandon her fawn merely because it has been touched by a person.

It is both illegal and unethical to feed deer and keep deer in your personal possession. Both crimes are misdemeanors, each subject to penalties of up to $1,000 and/or six months in jail.

Learn more about the dangers and consequences of feeding deer in the following video: CDFW Reminds Californians Why It’s Illegal to Feed Deer.

To report an injured, sick or suspected orphaned fawn, contact your local CDFW regional office directly.

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Media Contacts: 
Jeff Stoddard, CDFW Northern Region, (530) 768-7146
Peter Tira, CDFW Communications, (916) 215-3848

CDFW Investigators Seize Suspected Rhino Horns and Thousands of Pieces of Elephant Ivory in Los Angeles County

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 11:06:12 GMT

California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) law enforcement from the Special Operations Unit (SOU) uncovered extensive evidence linking a business in Los Angeles County to suspected trafficking of animal parts, including rhino horn and elephant ivory.

CDFW investigators discovered what appears to be at least nine rhino horns, thousands of pieces of elephant ivory, several large, intricately carved tusks and a sea turtle shell. All samples will be tested and identified at CDFW’s Wildlife Forensics Lab.

“California was among the first to take a stand against the ivory trade, and our commitment has not wavered,” said Nathaniel Arnold, CDFW Deputy Director and Chief of Law Enforcement. “These operations send a clear message that we will continue to hold accountable those who profit from the destruction of wildlife. The global demand for ivory and rhino horn fuels poaching and organized crime, and California will not serve as a marketplace for these endeavors.”

It is fitting that this case was uncovered in October 2025 — 10 years after the governor’s signature established this critical enforcement authority.

Assembly Bill 96 (AB 96), authored by Toni Atkins, was signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown in October 2015, taking effect in 2016. The bill expanded the state’s prohibition on the sales of ivory and rhino horn, making California the third state in the nation to enact such protections. With the authority established by AB 96, CDFW’s SOU and officers statewide have diligently pursued the illegal sale of ivory and rhino horn, working to reduce demand that drives the senseless poaching of iconic endangered species.

CDFW encourages the public to report wildlife trafficking and poaching activity through the CalTIP program by calling (888) 334-CALTIP (2258) or submitting anonymous tips via text toTIP411 (847411).

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Media Contact:
Steve Gonzalez, CDFW Communications Manager, (916) 804-1714

CDFW Cites Five Individuals in Siskiyou County for Illegal Suction Dredge Mining

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 14:30:38 GMT

Elk Creek dredge. CDFW photo.

SISKIYOU COUNTY – The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has cited five individuals in separate incidents for unlawful possession and use of suction dredge equipment in state waterways, in violation of Fish and Game Code (FGC) section 5653(e). Suction dredging is harmful to native fish and wildlife habitat, making it difficult for native species to thrive and creating favorable conditions for invasive species.

On Aug. 20, 2024, CDFW officers cited one individual after discovering he was actively operating a suction dredge on the Salmon River near Cecilville. The person admitted to using the dredge to recover gold and other minerals and provided paperwork showing a partnership related to the activity. Officers issued a citation in the field and seized the mechanized portion of his dredge. As a reminder, possession of a vacuum or suction dredge in areas in or within 100 yards of waters that are closed to the use of vacuum or suction dredges remains illegal in California. No partnership, membership or business relationship provides an exemption from this prohibition.

Due to a clerical error the dredge case was temporarily dismissed. The District Attorney’s office has since refiled a criminal case against the individual for violating FGC section 5653(e). Arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 7, 2025 in Siskiyou County.

Since July of this year, officers have cited four other individuals and seized their dredge equipment in Siskiyou County for unlawful possession and use of suction dredge equipment in both the Klamath River and Elk Creek. Arraignment dates are pending.

CDFW reminds the public that the use or possession of suction dredge equipment in rivers, streams or lakes without a valid permit is prohibited under FGC sections 5653.1(b) and 5653(e). Violations may result in citations, prosecution and seizure of equipment. CDFW is actively pursuing multiple cases related to illegal suction dredging activity across the state.

State law, effective Jan. 1, 2016, defines suction dredging as the use of a mechanized or motorized system to remove or process material from a river, stream or lakebed to recover minerals. Scientific studies have shown that suction dredging can harm fish and wildlife habitat by increasing turbidity, altering channels, causing erosion, releasing contaminants and creating conditions favorable to species such as signal crayfish.

While suction dredging is prohibited, non-motorized recreational mining methods such as gold panning remain legal. CDFW recognizes the longstanding interest in recreational mineral recovery and encourages miners to pursue these activities through lawful practices.

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Media Contact:
Jen Benedet, CDFW Communications

Wildlife Officers Determine Eureka Bear Death Was Not Poaching

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 14:47:44 GMT

Injured Bear Euthanized by Law Enforcement after Vehicle Strike

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has resolved public concern regarding reports of a poached bear in Eureka. Following a thorough investigation, officers determined the bear was not the victim of poaching but was instead humanely euthanized by law enforcement after sustaining severe injuries, likely from a vehicle strike.

On September 3, CDFW received a CALTIP report alleging two bears had been shot near Ridgewood Drive, south of Eureka. Neighbors reported hearing multiple gunshots during the overnight hours of Aug. 30, and suspicions circulated about potential poaching. A responding CDFW wildlife officer interviewed witnesses and canvassed the area but found no bear carcasses or physical evidence.

Further investigation revealed that, in the early morning of August 31, law enforcement partners from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) and California Highway Patrol (CHP) jointly responded to reports of an injured bear repeatedly entering the roadway on Ridgewood Drive. The animal displayed severe head trauma, walked in circles, and was unable to escape traffic. To relieve the animal’s suffering and to ensure public safety, CHP officers humanely euthanized the single adult male bear at approximately 4:30 a.m. Witness reports of three gunshots matched the number of rounds fired.

Interviews with multiple residents and officials confirmed that only one bear was involved. The carcass was removed on September 2 by Humboldt County Road Services. No evidence supports claims of a second bear or illegal poaching. CDFW thanks community members who report suspected poaching and polluting incidents, which play a vital role in protecting California’s natural resources.

CALTIP (Californians Turn In Poachers and Polluters) is a confidential program for reporting wildlife crimes. Anyone with information about potential violations is urged to call 1-888-334-CALTIP (888-334-2258), available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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Media Contact:
Jen Benedet, CDFW Communications, (916) 202-4465