The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Northeast Region Headquarters is seeking public assistance after receiving reports of “a large quantity of lobster” disposed of at the shoulder of Highway 17 in Bonfield on Tuesday.
“Police would like to remind the public that it is illegal to litter or dump on the highway. This will cause additional safety hazards when it attracts wildlife (various) to come out of the forest and make their way onto the travelled roadways,” the OPP wrote in an X post on Thursday, alongside a photo of the lobsters lying in a ditch on the side of the highway.
opp_northeast
LOBSTER DISPOSED OF ALONG HIGHWAY#NorthBayOPP have received calls on July 2, 2024 reporting a large quantity of lobster disposed of for unknown reason at the shoulder of Highway 17, Bonfield. Police would like to remind the public that it is illegal to litter or… pic.twitter.com/ZD3yMnvuxD— OPP North East Region (@OPP_NER) July 4, 2024
The reactions, unsurprisingly, were of shock.
opp_northeast
LOBSTER DISPOSED OF ALONG HIGHWAY#NorthBayOPP have received calls on July 2, 2024 reporting a large quantity of lobster disposed of for unknown reason at the shoulder of Highway 17, Bonfield. Police would like to remind the public that it is illegal to litter or… pic.twitter.com/ZD3yMnvuxD— OPP North East Region (@OPP_NER) July 4, 2024
“What totally absurd, disgusting behaviour by those responsible for this grotesque, absurd act. They must pay dearly for this,” another stated.
What totally absurd, disgusting behaviour by those responsible for this grotesque, absurd act. They must pay dearly for this.
— Maureen Blackstock (@MLBlackstock) July 5, 2024
Others had theories about why the lobsters were dumped:
“Happens often in Nova Scotia when the poachers catch them out of season during their spawning season, shells are soft and they can’t survive so they get dumped in the woods,” one user stated.
Happens often in Nova Scotia when the poachers catch them out of season during their spawning season, shells are soft and they can’t survive so they get dumped in the woods. Dead.
— LJB 🦞 (@LJB_OceanSide) July 5, 2024
Seeing the elastics, may want to check out the local metro grocery, see who had a bonanza sales day.
— dabestgoat (@dabestgoat) July 5, 2024
“My opinion is someone stolen a fresh lobster truck 🚛, didn’t know what to do with it, so dumped. What a waste each one of those lobster is like $20, got to be hundred of lobsters! Unless it is insurance fraud!” Another user stated. “Anyways you can do DNA test to see which regions originated.”
Anyone with information about the discarded lobster are encouraged to call the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).