A single mother in dire straits and her children, who collected 72 oysters from the beach, have been fined 3.2 million baht.

Expensive lesson: Children collect 72 seashells from the beach, thinking they are shells. He was ordered to pay a fine of $3.2 million

A single mother in the US was fined more than $88,000 (about 3.2 million baht) after her children collected 72 shellfish on the beach without a permit, the New York Post reported.

According to reports, Charlotte Ross, a single mother and resident of California, USA, took her five children to Pismo Beach. Also known as the Oyster Capital of the World, children collected 72 oysters because they thought they were shells.

But before they returned, California Department of Fish and Wildlife officials were on patrol and noticed children collecting shellfish without a permit. This resulted in a fine of more than 3.2 million baht.

The mother's statement before the court explained that she and her children had no prior knowledge of oysters. Through all this experience she taught her children and her expensive lessons about wildlife regulations. Later, the judge agreed and ordered the fine reduced to $500 (about 19,000 baht).

Ross also said that the incident was a valuable lesson for her and her children about wildlife regulations. She also has a shell tattoo on her arm. To remember the said event as well

The Department of Fisheries and Wildlife said the reason was that there should be strict penalties for shellfish fishing without a licence. This is to protect shellfish, like mollusks, because they must be allowed to grow to four and a half inches so they can lay eggs and give birth every year.