Accused lobster poacher put on ice

PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL--Unless you visit a fish store or restaurant you usually don't see as many lobsters as Palm Beach County Sheriff's Deputies saw Wednesday.

They made a traffic stop on the Florida Turnpike and turned up a surprising discovery... 232 lobster tails in a cooler.

Deputies called wildlife officers to the scene.

A further investigation revealed 167 of the lobsters were undersized according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Officers seized the lobsters and charged Alberto Varea, 54, of Hialeah, with possession of the illegal tails, a second-degree misdemeanor.

“This case is a sad example that shows some people have no respect for Florida’s natural resources,” Lt. Chuck Russo said in a written release.