Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents cited three oyster fishermen for alleged oyster violations on July 24 in Lafourche Parish.
Agents cited Frank Anthony Fernandez, 28, and Marvin Misael Amaya-Castro, 30, both from Gretna, and Darvin Medina Roches, 36, from New Orleans, for taking oysters from a polluted area.
Agents responded to complaints of illegal oyster harvesting in the Bayou Blue area located in Lafourche Parish. Agents located the three subjects harvesting oysters in an unapproved polluted area east of Bayou Blue.
Agents seized 40 sacks of oysters and returned them to the water.
Taking oysters from an unapproved polluted area brings a $900 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail. The men could also face having their oyster harvester licenses revoked by LDWF for up to one year. The violators could also be sentenced to perform 40 hours of community service and only be allowed to harvest oysters from a vessel that is equipped with a vessel monitoring device for up to one year.