Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division agents cited seven men for oyster fishing violations in the past month on the Sister Lake Public Oyster Seed Reservation in Terrebonne Parish.
On Nov. 7, agents cited Angel Torres-Cuevas, 36, of Houma, for taking oysters during a closed season and taking oysters from a polluted area. Agents seized his oyster dredge and dumped a sack of oysters back into the water.
Agents cited Policarpo D. Olivier, 41, and Maximo Aguilar-Lara, 32, both of Houma, for taking oysters during a closed season on Nov. 10. Agents dumped 12 sacks of oysters back into the water and seized Olivier’s two dredges.
On Dec. 1, agents cited Alfredo Oanaya, 31, of Houma, Eliazar Macedo, 28, of Beaumont, Texas, Esteban Reyes-Morelos, of Houma, and Francisco Ruiz-Maradiaga, 34, of Houma, for taking oysters during a closed season and for using an illegal dredge. Agents also cited the captain, Oanaya, for violating the logbook sanitation code. Agents seized two dredges and dumped 10 sacks of oysters back into the water.
The Sister Lake Public Oyster Seed Reservation is closed for the 2014/15 oyster season.
Taking oysters during a closed season brings a $900 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail. Taking oysters from a polluted area carries a $400 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail. Using an illegal dredge brings a $100 to $350 fine and up to 60 days in jail. Violating the logbook sanitation code carries up to a $25 fine and up to 10 days in jail.
For more information, contact Adam Einck at 225-765-2465 or aeinck@wlf.la.gov.