Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents cited four subjects for alleged seafood dealer violations in Terrebonne, St. Landry and St. Martin parishes.
Agents cited Cindy M. Sevin, 55, of Chauvin, on Feb. 27 in Terrebonne Parish for 29 counts of failing to maintain records and one count of failing to fill out oyster tags correctly.
Agents cited Maria G. Koenig, 60, of Lafayette, on March 9 in St. Martin Parish for 19 counts of failing to maintain records and 12 counts of failing to report commercial fishery data. Agents also cited Marla F. Berthelot, 56, of Plaquemine, for nine counts of failing to report commercial fishery data.
Agents cited Tess M. Wiltz, 50, of Krotz Springs, on March 10 in St. Landry Parish for 11 counts of failing to report commercial fishery data.
Agents were conducting inspections of commercial fish dealers when they found these violations at three separate commercial fish dealers. Sevin was found with 29 separate trip tickets that were never signed by the fisherman and also with 10 sacks of oysters with the incorrect date filled out on the tags.
Agents discovered that Koenig had not turned in trip ticket data for nine months to LDWF and had 19 receipts from commercial fishermen that she had not turned into LDWF. Agents also learned that Berthelot did not turn in 12 months of trip ticket data to LDWF.
Agents found that Wiltz did not turn in trip ticket data to LDWF for 11 months.
Failing to report commercial fishery data, failing to fill out oyster tags correctly and failing to maintain records, brings a $250 to $500 fine and up to 90 days in jail for each offense.