Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents arrested three men for alleged oyster harvesting violations on July 9 in Terrebonne Parish.
Agents arrested Juan Resendiz-Zarraja, 33, of Houma, Jorge Enrique Loper-Mendoza, 19, of Houma, and Gilberto Lopez-Pascual, 26, of Houma, for taking oysters during a closed season on the Sister Lake Public Oyster Seed Reservation. The captain of the vessel, De-Laoanaya, was also cited for violating the log book requirements.
On the morning of July 9, LDWF agents were on patrol when they observed a vessel in the Sister Lake Seed Reservation actively dredging for oysters.
Agents stopped the vessel found the three men in possession of 31 sacks of oysters. Agents seized the vessel, oyster dredges and returned the oysters to the water. The men were booked into the Terrebonne Parish Jail.
The Sister Lake Public Oyster Seed Reservation is closed for the 2014/15 season.
Taking oysters during a closed season brings a $900 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail. Violating the logbook sanitation code requirements carries up to a $25 fine and up to 10 days in jail.
Agents participating in this care are Lt. Joseph Arnaud and Sgt. Bryan Marie.
For more information, contact Adam Einck at 225-765-2465 or aeinck@wlf.la.gov.