Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents cited a subject for an alleged commercial shrimping violation in St. Bernard Parish on Aug. 7.

Agents cited Phuc Tran, 54, of Empire, for the using skimmer nets during a closed shrimping season.

Agents were on patrol on Aug. 7 around 8:30 p.m. when they observed a shrimping vessel actively using skimmer nets inside closed waters in Black Bay that do not open until Aug. 11. Agents stopped the vessel more than a half mile inside the closed area and found Tran in possession of 440 pounds of freshly caught shrimp.

Agents seized the shrimp and sold them at the dock to the highest bidder.

Using skimmer nets during a closed shrimping season brings a $400 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail.

Agents participating in the case are Sgt. Bear Fletcher, Senior Agent Dustin Slade, Corporal Sean Moreau and Corporal Jeremy Triplett.