An American jeweller who came under fire for taking 70lbs of sea glass from the Island has defended her actions, saying she did nothing wrong.

In an article published by the Erie Times-News, Becky Fox said she visited the Island in January and collected two suitcases of sea glass to make jewellery, which she sells online.

The story caused an outcry locally, with Bermudians messaging Mrs Fox and leaving negative comments on her Facebook page. Bermudian users have since been blocked from her Facebook page.

In a post on the page, Mrs Fox wrote that she did not feel the comments levelled against her were “positive or justly fair”, saying she would continue to ban or remove comments which did not “reflect the spirit for which this page is intended for”.

“I will not allow myself to be bullied and I will not back down and be made to apologise for breaking laws that absolutely do not exist, nor will I tolerate being made an example of by people who point their arrows in the wrong direction.”

Comments also poured in on the original Erie Times-News story with several people calling for a boycott of Mrs Fox’s products.

Several users noted a sign, in place at the Island’s best known glass beach on Ireland Island South, warning that it is illegal to take glass from the beach.

The sign, posted by Wedco, adds: “If you steal it you are depriving all those who come after you. Persons who choose to remove such items are liable for prosecution.”

The Historic Articles (Export Control) Act 1983 prohibits the exportation of historic artefacts — items more than 50 years old which carry national, historic, scientific or artistic importance — cannot be exported without a licence granted by the minister responsible.

Among the items Mrs Fox told the Erie Times-News she took from the Island were the remnants of Bermuda Codd bottles, a Patterson soda bottle, sea pottery and uranium glass, which was popular between the late 19th century and early 20th century.

The Bermuda National Parks Regulations, meanwhile, prohibits the taking of “any turf, soil, gravel, sand or other substance” from the Island’s parks.

Asked if there was a possibility of a prosecution in this case, commissioner of police Michael DeSilva said: “To my knowledge no one has reported this matter to us. What exactly the criminal offence could be and whether this constitutes theft, we would have to take advice on.”