Fishermen are arrested on Thursday, November 5, in Côtes-d'Armor for poaching scallops.
A seizure described as a record is carried out the same day aboard a boat in the port of Erquy.
The operation concerns stocks of scallop meats fished outside the authorized framework.
According to franceinfo, the crew catch twice the authorized quota.
Entire bags of scallops from this illegal fishing are on board.
When the gendarmes arrive, the boat's skipper tries to dispose of his goods.
He throws bags filled with scallops overboard, franceinfo reports.
The maneuver does not prevent investigators from recovering the goods.
They retrieve the submerged bags, franceinfo specifies.
An investigation is opened after this unprecedented seizure.
It must determine how these stocks of scallop meats were being sold illegally.
The facts, concentrated on a single boat in the port of Erquy, place compliance with quotas at the center of the proceedings.