Norwalk Man Caught In Shellfish Heist On Long Island Sound

Did you ever see the Seinfeld episode where Kramer unknowingly steals from someone's lobster trap? The Norwalk Police Department has just announced that they've arrested an alleged shellfish thief.

Get our free mobile app

The State of Connecticut is famous for steamed cheeseburgers, pizza, and our seafood, and we protect the product fiercely. If you try to get a slice of pizza without paying, you may be arrested, same goes for the shellfish in Long Island Sound, someone owns those aqua culture and oyster farms, and if you take something without paying, you will be taken in.

According to the City of Norwalk - Police Department, The Norwalk PD Marine Unit initiated an investigation into a large commercial shellfishing vessel that was suspected of illegally harvesting clams from the City of Norwalk's Recreational Shellfishing Beds after receiving complaints. The investigating officers observed a boat working the grounds and dumping multiple loads of shellfish onto the deck, and identified the operator as Michael Oravez, 61, of Myrtle Street, Norwalk. Oravez, a reported repeat offender for this same type of activity, had allegedly sold the illegally harvested clams to a local wholesaler and falsely reported the harvest location as authorized.

Oravez turned himself in after an arrest warrant was issued on second-degree Larceny and violation of shellfish regulation charges, was held on a $7,500 bond, and was issued a November 21, 2025 court date.

If you see someone harvesting illegally you can report any suspicious activity to the Norwalk Police Tip Line at 203-854-3111, or submit anonymously at norwalkpd.com.