28-05-2025
Placer County man sentenced for illegally selling Pacific lamprey
( — A man from Placer County was sentenced for the illegal distribution of Pacific lamprey fish, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
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Officials said Justin D. Lewis was sentenced to two years in jail and over $20,000 in fines last Wednesday in the Colusa County Superior Court for his role in commercializing the jawless fish.
Lamprey fish are considered bait and are usually sourced from Alaska, the CDFW said. However, due to a downturn in the bait market, an illegal commercial market was created.
The department also notes that lamprey have 'significant food and cultural value to Yurok tribal members in Del Norte County.'
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'This case highlights the critical importance of protecting California's native species and the ecosystems they support,' said Nathaniel Arnold, Chief of Enforcement at CDFW. 'The illegal commercialization of lamprey not only threatens a vulnerable species but also disregards the cultural significance they hold for tribal communities.'
The first year of Lewis's sentence will be served in the Colusa County Jail. The rest of his sentence will be on supervised release after incarceration, where his fishing and other outdoor privileges will be suspended.
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