Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division agents cited two subjects for alleged oyster violations in Terrebonne Parish on Dec. 17, 2015.
While on patrol in Bay Mc Mancleuse in Terrebonne Parish agents found a vessel dredging oysters from a private lease without the lease owner's permission.
Agents cited Chance Lovell, 37, of Theriot, and Russell Callahan, 28, of Dulac for unlawfully taking oysters from a private lease, failure to have written permission, sanitation codebook violation, no commercial fisherman license and no oyster harvester license.
Agents seized the boats and dredges on a departmental seizure form and returned 25 sacks of oysters to the water.
Unlawfully taking oysters from a private lease brings a $900 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail. Failure to have written permission and without an oyster harvester license each carries a $400 to $900 fine and up to 120 days in jail. Failing to have a commercial fishing license brings a $250 to $500 fine and up to 90 days in jail. Violation of the sanitary log book regulations brings a $25 fine and up to 10 days in jail.
Any person convicted of these violations may for one year after the date of such conviction only harvest oysters from a vessel that employs a vessel monitoring system. Access to the monitoring system shall be granted to LDWF.
Agents participating in the case are Senior Agents Norman Deroche and Thomas Wolf.
For more information, contact Adam Einck at 225-765-2465 or aeinck@wlf.la.gov.